MODI’fying India: Indian Borders under PM Modi

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Here we are going to evaluate the works done by PM Narendra Modi to secure our borders. Let us examine that how scenario has been changed between before and during PM Modi regime.

India China Border

Let us first examine the north east geographical situation.

North Eastern states of India are connected to main land of India by Siliguri corridor, also known as the chicken neck of the country. In this image that is shown in #1 and in blue line to show the width of that part. It is just 22 kms wide.
Pointer # 2, shown in this image, is one Indian state in North East, Arunachal Pradesh which China claim as its territory.

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In 4 weeks, deadly war with China, in 1962, India got defeated badly. Chinese troops entered in to the Arunanchal Pradesh. After that Indian leadership made a perception that we can’t stop China so if they attack and enters into Indian region, poor infrastructure will not let them get in quickly in Indian region. This report reads this

This has been put in by IDSA (Institute of Defense Studies and Analysis), an autonomous by funded by Ministry of Defense. This trend was there till 2009.

After that some changes started but major overhaul happened to this in 2014, when Narendra Modi became Prime Minister and Ajit Doval became National Security Advisor. He coined the term Offensive Defense. See it here.

Under the same strategy, Govt of India under PM Narendra Modi has taken the following steps –

  1. Construction of 44 strategic roads on Indo China border – Budget of this construction project will be around 21000 crores and it will be in 5 states, J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
  2. Bogibeel Bridge – It is shown in Point# 3 in the picture below. This started in 2002 and completed after 200 months. As per this PIB report, in 2014 this was significantly incomplete and was pushed on the fast track by Modi govt.
  3. Dhola Sadia Bridge – Started around 2010, with expected completion in 2015. As per this news report 2014, it was far away from completion until transport ministry pushed it and it was completed in May 2017. See in the image at pointer # 4.
  4. Shillong-Nongstoin-Rongjeng-Tura Road – this highway upgraded to two-lane, as a part of making better infrastructure.
  5. New railway lines and launch of new trains on this route is also part of Indian strategy.
  6. Pakyong Airport – This is the most important airport as it is 60 km away from China border. Approved in 2008, started in 2009, it was scheduled to be completed in 2012 but work halted due to many reasons, protests by villagers etc till Oct 2014. Again it started and with initial protest but disputes were settled and it is completed in May 2018
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Economist report also acknowledges that India is making great advancement in the northeast region but it is still way behind China.

What was need of this huge expenditure?

Many reports on internet saying about more military deployment on border region by Chinese army. Having weak infrastructure, India need to increase it capabilities on this front. India has also observed a standoff with China in Doklam Plateau.

Indo Pak Border

India had 3 wars and countless pseudo war with Pakistan and each time they were defeated.

With the strategic infrastructure construction on China border, India is also constructing 2100 km road along Punjab and Rajsthan border costing 5400 Crore. As per this, not much information available as of now but DPR has been prepared.  

So we can see here the work done by Modi Govt is significant on this front as well.