73 roads are identified as strategic Indo-China border roads (ICBR), out of which 61 roads have been entrusted to Border Roads Organisation (BRO) with a length of 3417 km which were planned to be completed by 2012. Out of which 22 roads of length 707.74 km are completed. The revised completion schedule of 39 ICBRs is as under:
• 2016 – 5 Roads
• 2017 – 8 Roads
• 2018 – 12 Roads
• 2019 – 8 Roads
• 2020 – 6 Roads
Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal agency for the fencing along the border regions. The status of fencing works is as under:
• Indo-Bangladesh border (Phase-I): 857.37 km of fencing in the states of West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram has been completed in 2000.
• Indo-Bangladesh border (Phase-II): Out of 2468 km of fencing, 1872 km has been completed. The completion schedule is March 2019 for ongoing works.
• Indo-Myanmar border: Out of the 9.12 km fencing, 2.79 km has been completed.
Government has taken following measures to expedite the pace of road projects:
• States of Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Tripura have constituted the Empowered Committee to resolve issues related to land acquisition, forest / wildlife clearance, allotment of quarries etc.
• Ministry of Environment & Forest (MoEF) has given the General Approval under section 2 of forest (conservation) Act, 1980 for diversion of forest land required for construction / widening of roads entrusted to BRO in the area falling within 100 kilometers aerial distance from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and for link roads between Border Roads in the area within 100 kilometer aerial distance from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and National Highways / State Highways / Other roads subject to certain conditions.
• Outsourcing has been allowed to augment capacity of BRO.
• Long Term Roll On Work Plan (LTROWP) and Long Term Equipment Plan (LTEP) have been approved.
• Enhanced financial and administrative powers have been given to the executives of BRO.