[Answered] India has made marked progress in LAC infra development. Highlight the progress in infrastructural development along LAC.

At present, Line of Actual Control (LAC) is the line separating Indian areas of Ladakh from Aksai Chin. It is concurrent with the Chinese Aksai Chin claim line. There are several disputed areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), including in Himachal, Uttarakhand and Sikkim.

Infrastructural development along LAC:

• In the past five years, the Border Roads Organisation has constructed close to 6,000 km of roads; of this, 2,100 km has been along the northern borders.
• The frontier road, which runs a total of 1,800 km, will connect various valleys in Arunachal Pradesh. The plan has been re-energised and funding has been assigned. Some work on it is already underway.
• Atal tunnel: Atal tunnel has been inaugurated and Shinku la tunnel along the Nemu-Padam-Daricha road is in the final stages of approval. The tunnel is theworld’s longest highway tunnel above the altitude of 10,000 feet (3000 metres).This pass may be considered as an entry point to Lugnak Valley in Zanskar.
• Zojila tunnel: The Zojila tunnel and the Z-Morh tunnel, which will link the valley to Ladakh and will be operationalised by the end of the year. The tunnel will connect Baltal in Kashmir with Minamarg in Ladakh. This will reduce travel time by two-and-a-half hours.
• Sela tunnel: The Sela tunnel will be the longest twin-lane tunnel above 13,000 feet in the world and will provide all-weather connectivity to Tawang. Moreover, the project will also allow faster deployment of weapons and soldiers to forward areas in the Tawang sector.

The creation of infrastructure would help integrate these areas with the hinterland, create a positive perception of care by the country and encourage people to stay on in the border areas leading to safe and secure borders.