Northeast highway to enable Army to move swiftly

GUWAHATI: The 1,840km Arunachal Frontier Highway project, to be launched by PM Narendra Modi on Sept 22, is designed to link all major river valleys in the state, enabling Army to move swiftly between sectors, reduce response time, and improve logistics in the face of growing Chinese infrastructure near the border.

The highway could also unlock the economic potential of remote border regions. The Union govt intends to invest Rs 2,205 crore across 122 villages along the eastern frontiers under its Vibrant Villages Programme , linking them via feeder roads and boosting infrastructure as part of a civilian-led response to China's militarised "Xiaokang" border villages.

"The alignment runs at an elevation of 300 to 400 metres. The highway will be within 20 to 80km of McMahon Line," state PWD (highways) chief engineer CS Choutang told TOI. "There are a lot of challenges, and we are hoping to complete project by 2028-29."

MoRTH is funding the project while BRO, NHIDCL and the state PWD will be the implementing agencies.

In a post on X, the CMO said PM will also inaugurate several other projects, including the Tato-I and Heo hydroelectric plants along the proposed highway, on Sept 22.

Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita (retd), a former GOC-in-C of Army's Eastern Command, said, "This highway closes the gaps between multiple valleys and the forward areas. This is a major advantage from a defence point of view. If one needs to travel from Tawang to Subansiri, you currently have to go through Assam."

On China's infra build-up along the LAC, Kalita said, "Their geography is different. That's a barren plateau. They face fewer challenges; only limiting factor is altitude. On our side, the gradients are extremely steep from foothills to the highest point, climbing from 200m to 18,000-19,000m."