Budget for strengthening Indo-Pak border infra tripled: Home ministry

The Centre has increased the budget for road construction and fencing on Indo-Pakistan border by nearly 300%, the Lok Sabha was informed today by the ministry of home affairs.

"Along Indo-Pakistan border, the government has approved revision of cost estimates in fencing, flood-lighting, roads and Border Outposts works from the earlier sanctioned Rs380 crore to Rs1,201 crore," minister of state for home affairs Mullappally Ramachandran said in a written reply.

The minister said 1,915km of fencing and 1,861km of floodlighting works have been completed on the Indo-Pakistan border out of 2,043km of fencing and 2,009km of flood-lighting sanctioned by the government.

"Out of 340km of border roads sanctioned by the government in Gujarat sector on the Indo-Pakistan border, the construction works of 219km of border roads have been completed," he said.

The strengthening of infrastructure on the India-Bangladesh border is also on the anvil with nearly 150% hike in the budget to improve fencing, flood-lights and roads.

"The government has approved the revision of targets of fencing and road works along India-Bangladesh border from earlier sanctioned works of 2,429km for fencing and 797km of roads to 2,579km and 1,422km respectively under phase-2," he said.