India is undertaking a significant infrastructure build-up along its border with China in the Himalayas, a strategic move driven by lessons from the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. This extensive construction effort, involving new roads, tunnels, bridges, and airfields, aims to enhance military mobility and rapid response capabilities. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is at the forefront, with its budget significantly increased to facilitate thousands of kilometers of road construction, dozens of helipads, and multiple airfields. Engineers and workers are operating in harsh, high-altitude conditions to push these critical projects forward. This development marks a substantial shift in India’s defense posture, moving away from past hesitations about border infrastructure. The goal is to ensure India is never caught unprepared again, bolstering its ability to counter potential escalations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The project signals a commitment to stability through strength, integrating border regions and improving local life while reinforcing deterrence against a nuclear-armed neighbor.
