India Allocates ?2 Crore Per Kilometer for China Border Road Development (GS Paper 2, Development)
Context
- The government's Vibrant Village Program (VVP), sanctioned on February 15, 2023, aims to enhance infrastructure and settlement viability along the India-China border.
- With a focus on 2,967 villages spanning 46 border blocks across 19 districts in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh, the VVP seeks to uplift livelihoods, elevate living standards, and fortify border security by fostering populated frontlines.
Road Construction Initiative under VVP
- A significant portion of the VVP's ₹4,800 crore budget over three years is earmarked for road construction and improvement projects.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has greenlit 113 road projects, predominantly concentrated in Arunachal Pradesh (105 roads), Uttarakhand (5 roads), and Sikkim (3 roads).
- These projects encompass road development and the construction of steel bridges, with an estimated cost of ₹2 crore per kilometer, reflecting substantial investment in bolstering connectivity infrastructure.
Project Highlights
- Uttarakhand Pithoragarh Project: Spanning Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand, this project entails a total road length of 43.96 km, with a total cost of ₹119 crore, approximately translating to ₹2.71 crore per kilometer.
- Sikkim Chungthang-Mangan Project: Covering Chungthang and Mangan blocks in Sikkim, this project comprises 18.73 km of roads alongside 350 meters of steel bridges. With a total expenditure of ₹96 crore, the project's cost per kilometer stands at approximately ₹5.03 crore.
Strategic Implications
- India's intensified infrastructure development under the VVP forms part of a broader strategic response to China's initiatives in establishing "moderately prosperous" Xiaokang villages along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), particularly in regions bordering Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
- By bolstering border areas' economic viability and surveillance capabilities, India aims to consolidate its territorial integrity and promote local livelihoods.
Understanding the Vibrant Village Programme (VVP)
- Initiated by the Indian government, the Vibrant Village Program (VVP) targets underdeveloped border towns, particularly in Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh, to revitalize them and ensure access to essential services like healthcare, education, and internet connectivity.
- By fostering physical and digital infrastructure development, enhancing border security, and facilitating sustainable livelihoods, the VVP aims to uplift socioeconomic conditions in these border regions and deter migration from these areas.
