M A I N   N E W S

Border rail lines, roads held up in red tape: House panel
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 2
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has expressed shock on the way red tape is holding back the construction of strategic railway lines and roads in the Himalayas even as China continues to beef up its infrastructure along its border with India.

In its report tabled in Parliament on Monday, the parliamentary panel not only slammed the languid pace of the work being done, but also expressed dismay at how the Railways was not even being provided an additional rupee for upgrading or building the rail network along the borders.

These rail lines are needed for strategic purposes to match China’s excellent rail network across the Himalayas. Several roads too are running behind schedule and many others are stuck up on account of lack of clearance from one ministry or the other.

The report said, “The (Defence) Secretary has apprised that the Railways is not being provided any additional allocation by the Planning Commission for upgrading the rail infrastructure on our borders”.

The panel said, “The committee deplores the position whereby the issue of allocating of outlay for our strategic needs is stuck in bureaucratic hurdles.”

The Ministry of Defence has identified 14 railway lines as “high priority” and endorsed the need on strategic grounds.

The committee explained that “absurd” red-tapism was stopping the Planning Commission from allowing funding for strategic rail lines in border areas.

It said, “As the total outlay of defence is part of the non-plan budget, defence cannot be provided an outlay from the Planning Commission.”

The (Defence) Secretary has suggested that some way out has to be found to address the issue, said the report.

The report has suggested that the concerns of the committee should be conveyed “adequately” to the Cabinet Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Finance Ministry and that there was a need for “intervention at the highest level” to ensure coordination that will provide adequate allocation for strategic roads, rail network, tunnels etc.

In contrast, China has a rail and road network that runs all along Tibet and is within a few km from its frontier with India. These arteries can be used to replenish supplies within hours in case of a conflict.

India will struggle to maintain supplies in case of a war. Even now in winter, the forward areas in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh have to stock everything for six months as the mountain passes become inaccessible. In an emergency, supplies and troops are moved by aircraft or helicopters.

Meanwhile, the committee has found that lack of forest and wildlife clearance has held up as many as 172 roads, including 12 along the India-China border.

The committee also suggested that the funding of border roads through the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) should also be looked into.

china ahead by miles

• China has a rail and road network that runs all along Tibet and is just a few km away from its frontier with India. These arteries can be used to replenish supplies within hours in case of a conflict
• India, even during normalcy, struggles to maintain supplies. The forward areas in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh have to stock everything for six months as the mountain passes become inaccessible in winter. In an emergency, supplies and troops are moved by aircraft or helicopters