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Bridge allowing armoured vehicles to pass opened in Arunachal, less than month of Tawang clash

The Siyom bridge in Arunachal Pradesh is a 100-metre ‘Class-70’ steel arch superstructure, which can withstand movement of armoured columns along with artillery.

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New Delhi: A strategically important bridge over the Siyom river in Arunachal Pradesh was among 28 infrastructure projects inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Tuesday.

This was the Union minister’s first visit to the state since Indian and Chinese troops clashed in Tawang sector’s Yangtse on 9 December.

The Siyom bridge is a 100-metre ‘Class-70’ steel arch superstructure constructed on the Along-Yingkiong road in the state that shares an over 3,000-km long border with China — the Line of Actual Control (LAC) .

‘Class-70’ refers to the capability of the bridge to withstand movement of vehicles weighing 70 tonnes. This means that armoured columns along with artillery can easily move through the bridge.

The bridge is strategically significant since it will enable faster movement of troops, heavy machinery and weapons to forward areas of the Upper Siang district – Tuting and Yinkiong regions, said sources.

The defence minister unveiled the bridge at an event in Siang, while the rest of the 27 projects were virtually inaugurated. All of these were completed by the Border Roads Organisation at a cost of Rs 724 crore.

“The world is witnessing a number of conflicts today. India has always been against war. It is our policy. Recently, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi drew the world’s attention to that resolve when he said ‘this is not the era of war’. We do not believe in war, but if it is forced upon us, we will fight. We are ensuring that the Nation is protected from all threats. Our Armed Forces are ready and it is heartening to see that the BRO is walking shoulder-to-shoulder with them,” Singh said during the event.

The defence minister also underlined the significance of adequate infrastructural development in far-flung areas.

“Recently, our forces effectively countered the adversary in the Northern sector and dealt with the situation with bravery and promptness. This was made possible due to adequate infrastructural development in the region. This motivates us even more for the progress of far-flung areas,” Singh said.

In his address, he had also described the projects as a testament to the concerted efforts of the government and the BRO towards the development of border areas “in order to enhance the operational preparedness” of the armed forces and “ensure socio-economic development” of the far-flung regions.

Apart from inaugurating Siyom bridge, 21 other bridges, three roads and three other projects in seven border states/Union Territories in Northern & Northeastern regions were “dedicated to the nation virtually”.

Eight of these projects are in Ladakh, five in Arunachal Pradesh, four in Jammu & Kashmir, three each in Sikkim, Punjab and Uttarakhand and two in Rajasthan. In addition, three telemedicine nodes – two in Ladakh and one in Mizoram – were inaugurated, according to a statement by the defence ministry.


Also read: How DRDO projects overshot budgets by up to 426% — CAG flags ‘serious flaws’ in cost estimation


 

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