Government focuses back on road plan in Ladakh

Ladakh : As India and China engaged in high level talks to disengage troops from the LAC region, the home ministry reviewed the progress of road construction along the border area.

Sanjeeva Kumar, Secretary (Border Management) reviewed infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the de-facto border dividing India and China, for the second time in five days, underscoring the government's determination to proceed with the plan after the Ladakh face-off.

It is believed that construction of road in the Ladakh border region was one of the prime reasons behind China provoking war like situations.

On June 15, after weeks of tension at various points along the LAC, a deadly brawl erupted between Indian and Chinese soldiers at Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh, in which 20 Indian soldiers laid down their lives. Army sources say 45 Chinese soldiers were killed or injured.  

Most experts watching the India-China situation have said the government building roads and airfields to improve transport links and narrow the gap with China's superior infrastructure on its side of the LAC is a big reason for the current escalation. India recently completed a road from Darbuk to Daulat Beg Oldie, a feeder road to improve its defence along the Galwan heights.