In LAC infra push, defence minister Rajnath to open Arunachal bridge today

NEW DELHI: The important Siyom bridge in Arunachal Pradesh, along with 27 other infrastructure projects completed by the Border Roads Organisation at cost of Rs 724 crore, will be inaugurated by defence minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday.
This will be his first visit to Arunachal Pradesh after the December 9 physical clashes between Indian and Chinese troops at Yangtse in Tawang sector left several soldiers on both sides injured.
Singh will physically inaugurate the 100-meter 'Class-70' steel arch superstructure Siyom bridge on the Along-Yinkiong Road, which will facilitate faster induction of troops, heavy equipment like howitzers and mechanised vehicles to forward areas of the Upper Siang district, Tuting and Yinkiong regions along the LAC with China.

As many as 21 other bridges, three roads and three additional infrastructure projects in Arunachal Pradesh, J&K, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Punjab and Rajasthan, constructed under challenging weather conditions and inhospitable terrains, will in turn be 'e-inaugurated' by Singh during the event.

India has somewhat reduced the huge "infrastructure differential" with China along the 3,488-km LAC in terms of roads, tunnels, bridges, troop habitats, permanent defences, helipads and airfields since the military confrontation in eastern Ladakh erupted in May 2020.