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Indian government project to develop border roads From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
India–China Border Roads (ICBRs, ICB Roads) is a Government of India project for developing infrastructure along the Sino-Indian border by constructing strategic roads, including bridges and tunnels.[1][4][5] The ICBR project is largely in response to Chinese infrastructure development along the borderlands with India.[6][7] Several entities are responsible for constructing ICBR, including Border Roads Organisation (BRO) which handles the bulk of the ICBR road construction work,[4] National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MoDNER), Central Public Works Department (CPWD), public works departments of respective states and others.[8] At least 67 per cent of the road network assigned to BRO falls under ICBR.[4]
| India China Border Roads | |
|---|---|
| ICBRs, ICB Roads | |
  Highlights in red for Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh | |
| Type of project | Infrastructure development |
| Current status | Ongoing (Establishing connectivity and maintenance) |
| Location | Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh |
| Approved | 1999 |
| Length of roads | |
| Phase 1 | 3,323 km (approved in 2005) |
| Phase 2 | 6,700 km (approved in 2020) |
| Total length | 10,023 km |
| Status | |
| Phase 1 | 15% complete by 2012,[1] 20% complete by 2015[2] 46% complete and 95% connectivity established by 2021[3] |
| Phase 2 | Ongoing |
Three phases of ICBR roads have been approved entailing 177 roads of over 10,023 km (6,228 mi) total length along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China under the "Border Infrastructure and Management Fund" (BIMF) of Ministry of Home Affairs, including 73 roads of 3,323 km (2,065 mi) length under Phase-I and Phase-II approved since 2005 and additional 104 roads of more than 6,700 km (4,200 mi) length under ICBR-III approved in 2020.[9][10][11][12] As of August 2024, the work on Phase-III had commenced, and the Phase-I and Phase-II were complete except some residual work from Phase-II.[13] ICBR covers construction of several roads, 18 feet wide foot tracks and border out posts (BoPs) connecting several LAC patrol points (PP) and Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) points. For example, in 2021 India was building 57 roads, 32 helipads, 47 BoPs, 12 staging camps for ITBP and many 18 ft tracks in Arunachal Pradesh under various ICBR phases.[10]
India has set up an inter-departmental "Empowered Committee" (EC) headed by the Ministry of Defence to expedite the issue resolution and timely completion of ICBR infrastructure after the delay in forest/wildlife clearance and land acquisition, rugged terrain, limited working season due to winter and rains, scarcity of construction material, etc. resulted in the missed deadlines in the past.[14] Some of the important already completed projects include the Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie Road (DS-DBO) and Atal Tunnel under Rohtang Pass; and the under-construction important projects include the Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh and a road-cum-rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra River in Assam.[15]
In the wake of heightened road and track construction work undertaken by China along India's northern and eastern frontiers, India constituted a China Study Group (CSG) in 1997, to study the requirement of road communication, along the China border for brisk movement of troops in the event of armed conflict. At the end of the study, the CSG identified a network of 73 roads, called the India–China Border Roads (ICBR), to be developed along the Indo-China border. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in 1999 approved the construction of these roads by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under the Ministry of Defence. The project was to be completed by 2006 but the deadline was then extended to 2012. The Standing Committee on Defence, a body for legislative oversight, appraised strategic road connectivity in 2018. With regard to the slow pace of construction of border roads, the Border Roads Organisation stated to the committee:[16]
It would not be incorrect to say that few years back the philosophy of our nation was that we should not make roads as near to the border as possible. That philosophy is telling today very clearly as to why we do not have roads. It is only couple of years back that we suddenly decided a change of philosophy and said no, we must go as far forward as possible. It is going to take time. Unfortunately, the time cannot be compressed. Whatever we can do, it will take time.
— BRO, 50th Report, Standing Committee on Defence (2018-19)
Reasons such as climate, geography, land acquisition and natural disasters also accounted for the delays.[17] In 2013 the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government took multiple administrative decisions to speed up construction. The 2017 Doklam standoff further raised the profile of the issue with the Modi government for border infrastructure along the China border.[17] ICBRs are present in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.[16]
In May 2022, Indian govt sources announced establishment of the Border Infrastructure Management Authority (BIMA) which is responsible for the integrated development of the border areas including road, rail, water, power, communications infrastructure, and the Vibrant Village Program for improvement of living conditions of natives in these areas to prevent their out-migration as the border villages are considered strategic assets.[18]
Phase-1 or ICBR-1 project was conceived in 1999 with a target completion date of 2012 to construct 73 strategic ICBRs of nearly 4000 km length.[11][4] It was approved in 2005.[11] Of the 73 ICBR in Phase-1, the construction of 61 roads was assigned to BRO and remaining 12 to CPWD.[19] Of the 61 roads assigned to BRO, 12 roads of 1,064.14 km length in Ladakh, 5 roads of 116.99 km length in Himachal Pradesh, 14 roads of 355 km length in Uttarakhand, 3 roads of 61.98 km length in Sikkim, and 27 roads of 1,725.46 km length are in Arunachal Pradesh.[20] ICBR-I is seen as a successor of BRO's Project HIMANK which was initiated in 1985 for the construction of border roads in Ladakh.
As of March 2021, of the 61 ICBR-I and ICBR-II roads assigned to BRO, connectivity on 59 roads of 3,205.16 km length had been achieved. Of these 61 roads where connectivity has been achieved, 42 roads of 1,530.38 km have been black topped.[20][3]
ICBR-III was approved in 2020-21 fiscal budget,[10] to construct additional 104 roads of more than 6,700 km length.[9][14] The proposal for the Phase 2 was first conceived in 2013 with the goal of constructing 32 roads along the border,[8] expanded version of which was approved in 2020 with inclusion of additional roads.[8][10] Amid the India-China skirmishes, the government asked all bodies to speed up the construction of the roads.[8] Additional labour was also sent to these areas to assist in speeding up construction.[8]
ICBR infrastructure is funded by the "Border Infrastructure and Management Fund" (BIMF) which provides funding for India's border infrastructures along Bangladesh, Pakistan and China borders.[10]
Spending on ICBR tripled between 2016 and 2020, from ₹4,600 crore (equivalent to ₹54 billion or US$650 million in 2023) to ₹11,800 crore (equivalent to ₹140 billion or US$1.7 billion in 2023).[21] Annual funding was as follows: INR 11,800 crore in 2020–21, INR 8,050 crore in 2019–20, INR 6,700 crore in 2018–19, INR 5450 crore in 2017–18, between INR 3,300 crore to INR 4,600 crore annually from 2008 to 2016.[19]
Due to significantly increased annual funding, the ICBR construction picked up pace after 2014:
Funds were also diverted from "General Staff (GS) roads"[lower-alpha 1] to ICBRs.[11]
Of the 73 ICBR of 3812 km, 61 of 3323.57 km were assigned to BRO, which have been subdivided based on their usage type. China Study Group had identified roads vital for defending the whole LAC at national level. Ministry of Defence had identified sub-national level inter-state and regional roads vital for larger military logistics, which were assigned to CPWD and state PWDs. ITBP which mans the forward staging areas and frontier posts on the LAC had identified strategic roads to connect the individual posts to the main trunk and arterial roads. Other roads include connecting inter state and state level.[22] The work structure for the ICBRs is divided among different agencies including the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC), Central Public Works Department (CPWD), National Projects Construction Corporation (NPCC) and state public works departments.[16]
Phase-I consists of 3812 km roads.[1][16]
In Arunachal Pradesh the ICBR project, in coordination with other government programmes, has connected a number of border outposts and frontier areas to the national highway network such as Kharsang La, Taksing, Lamang, Gelling, Kibithu and Dichu.[23] Major road projects in Arunachal Pradesh include the 'Sela Pass project' which consists of the under construction Sela Tunnel.[24][16]
| Route of road Maplink/OSM ID |
Interactive Map | District | Length | Status | Comments | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assam - Arunachal Pradesh | ||||||
| Orang-Kalaktang-Shergaon-Roopa- Tenga (OKSRT) Map 13649310 |
 |
West Kameng | 158 km (98 mi) | Completed in 2016 | It provides alternate access to eastern flank of National Highway 13  which also goes to Tawang. Bridges at Kalaktang, Gajni, Shikari, Sher, Balemu, Bomnag, Haflong. |
[25] |
| Arunachal Pradesh | ||||||
| Tato-Manigong-Tadagade Map 13651872 |
 |
Shi Yomi | 86 km (53 mi) | Partially complete | Tato is 47 km southwest of Mechuka, Manigong is 9 km west of Mechuka, Tadagade is 33 km from Manigong. | [16] |
| Bona-Gelling Map 13652936 |
 |
Upper Siang | 10 km (6.2 mi) | Complete | Gelling is last Indian post on LAC. Gelling lies northeast of Bona. This is an extension of the Tuting-Bona-Gelling road. | [16] |
| Tame Chung Chung-Taksing Map 13653063 |
 |
Upper Subansiri | 54 km (34 mi) | Completed in 2017 | The road from Nacho goes to Tame Chung Chung (TCC) at Gelensiniak. From there it diverges towards Taksing and Maja (also spelt Maza), both close to the border.
Work on TCC-Taksing started in 2000 but was completed in 2017.[26] The road TCC-Bidak was completed in 2018.[27][28] |
[16] |
| Tame Chung Chung-Maja Map 13660521 |
 |
48 km (30 mi) | Complete till Bidak | [16] | ||
| Nacho-Tame Chung Chung Map 13660549 |
 |
78 km (48 mi) | Partially complete | [22] | ||
| Jang-Rama Sapper Map 13651811 |
 |
Tawang | 90 km (56 mi) | Completed in 2016 | It provides access to Tawang and forms the northern/upper part of National Highway 13. It was completed in 2016. It is a part of the unfinished Balipara-Charduar-Tawang road.[29] (Jang also spelt as Jung) |
[30] |
| Sangestar Tso-Kharsang La Map 13664340 |
 |
16 km (9.9 mi) | Complete |  |
[32][16] | |
| Zemithang-Khinzemane Map 13664456 |
 |
25 km (16 mi) | Complete | The upper portion of the road is close to the Namka Chu river. | [32][31] | |
| Yarlung-Lamang | Shi Yomi | N/A | N/A | Lamang is last Indian outpost near Mechuka. Yarlung post is en route Lamang. | [33][34] | |
In Uttarakhand, the border most points of Pulam Sumda, Mana Pass, Niti Pass, Lapthal and Rimkhim, and Lipulekh have been connected.[23]
| Route of road Maplink/OSM ID |
Interactive Map | District | Length | Status | Comments | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uttarakhand | ||||||
| Nelong-Naga-Jadhang/Sonam Map 13667660 |
 |
Uttarkashi | 30 km (19 mi) | Partially complete | Nelang-Naga road forks into 2 roads, one each leading to Sonam[35][36] and Jadhang IBTP border outposts (BoPs). Jadganga River bridge is on this route. The fork toward Sonam continues to Pulam Sumda. This is also known as the Nelgang-Pulam Sumda road. | [22] |
| Joshimath-Malari-Girthidobla-Sumna-Rimkhim Map 13667486 |
 |
Chamoli | 105 km (65 mi) | Partially complete | Bara Hoti-Lapthal disputed sector is 100 km from Joshimath. Joshimath-Malari road forks to 2 different ITBP posts at Malari, to Sumna-Rimkhim post in the east and another post to the west. Bridges at Dhak, Tamak, Suraithota, Subaigadhera[37] ITBP has 42 BoPs (border outposts) in Bara Hoti sector and Mana Pass area.[38][39] | [40][41] |
| Mana-Mana Pass Map 13667703 |
 |
48 km (30 mi) | Complete |  |
[42] | |
| Tawaghat-Ghatiabagarh-Lipulekh Map 13667911 |
 |
Pithoragarh | 100 km (62 mi) | Complete | Lipulekh area and the pass, Kalapani territory, Kailash Mansarovar road. | [43][44] |
| Munsiyari-Milam Map 13667746 |
Partially complete | Milam is the last village. | [42] | |||
The forward most localities and border outposts of Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), Hotspring, Demchok and Zursar have been connected. Roads connectivity has reduced their reliance on air transport.[23]
| Route of road Maplink/OSM ID |
Interactive Map | District | Length | Status | Comments | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ladakh | ||||||
| Harong-Chushul Map 13671808 |
 |
Leh | 65 km (40 mi) | Complete | Part of the 240 km (150 mi) Spangmik-Tangtse-Harong-Chushul-Tsaga-Loma route on towards Nyoma. | [16] |
| Phobrang-Marsimik La-Hot Springs Map 13671836 |
 |
70 km (43 mi) | Complete | Route from Lukung near Pangong Tso towards Hot Springs close to the LAC. | [22][42] | |
| Darbuk-Shyok-DBO Map 13671859 |
255 km (158 mi) | Complete | Route is partially along the Shyok River and LAC. Also called the DS-DBO road or the Sub-Sector North Road. | |||
| Sasoma-Saser La Map 13671925 |
55 km (34 mi) | Partially complete |  |
|||
| Koyul-Photila-Chisumle-Zurasar Map 13671950 |
120 km (75 mi) | Complete | Demchok sector. Zurasar is one of the last border posts in the area. | [42] | ||
| Himachal Pradesh - Ladakh | ||||||
| Leh-Upshi-Sarchu Map 333878 |
 |
Leh | 250 km (160 mi) | Complete |  |
|
| Nimmu–Padum–Darcha | Leh, Kargil, Lahaul and Spiti | 285 km (177 mi) | Partially complete |  |
||
Geostrategic initiatives include the Andaman and Nicobar Command and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.
Under the 2022-23 budget, India intends to repopulate, upgrade or establish 500 villages near the zero-line border along the LAC from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh,[51] while China has already established 628 villages by 2021 at a cost of $6.4 billion with heavily subsidized telecommunication, internet, electricity and utilities, etc. According to this report, out of 172 (incl. 24 3G & 78 4G) out 236 villages in Ladakh had telecom connectivity. For example, 19 border villages in Chushul had no or partial communication infrastructure.[51]
The People's Liberation Army's Western Theater Command is responsible for the defense of China along the whole line of actual control with India.[52] The Indian Armed Forces has divided the LAC into 3 sectors - the western sector across Ladakh and the Chinese-controlled Aksai Chin, the central sector across Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand, and the eastern sector across Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.[53] Similarly, the Indian Airforce has the Prayagraj-based Central Air Command, Delhi-based Western Air Command, and Shillong-based Eastern Air Command to cover the LAC.
India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has identified at least 15 new geostrategic rail lines to be constructed near the China, Pakistan and Nepal borders for troop deployments.[62] In comparison, China has built lines up to Shigatse in Tibet, with plans to connect it to Nepal and further to India.[63] After these lines were proposed by the ministry of defense in 2013, the Government of India approved the initial surveys of all 14 lines in 2014,[64] Some of these as well as other related projects are as follows:
As of sept 2021, India is constructing 31 road tunnels (up from 17 tunnels of 100 km total length planned in 2017), 20 in J&K and 11 in Ladakh, at the combined cost of INR1.4 lakh crore (~US$17.5 billion), this includes tunnels constructed by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).[67] As of January 2023, of the tunnel projects assigned to BRO, 5 were complete, 9 were under construction ( 6 - Arunachal Pradesh, 4 - Jammu and Kashmir, 1 - Ladakh), 11 were in DPR phase, the rest have been assigned to other entities.[68] [69][19] BRO keeps 27 mountain passes open and plans to build tunnels under all of those so that traffic remains open throughout the year and the army will save several hundred crores of rupees annually presently spent on airlifting logistics supplies. Of the 13 highest motorable mountain passes in the world, 10 are in India, and out of which 8 are in Ladakh only. Out of 27 mountain passes maintained by BRO, tunnels are being constructed under 11 and the detail project report of tunnel under 9 is being prepared, tunnels will also be built under the remaining 7 mountain passes so that the army can reach the border at a faster pace with year-around all-weather connectivity through all 27 passes. Some of these tunnels have dual road and rail usage, such as the world's longest three tube rail and road tunnel under Brahmaputra. Modi government doubled the BRO's budget of GS Roads (General Staff roads for military) of BRO in 2 years, Rs2500cr in fy2021-21 to Rs3500cr in fy2022-23 to Rs5000cr in 2023–24.[70]
BRO has been constructing tunnels the strategic ICBR roads on Sino-Indian border to provide the year-round all-weather connectivity. Without these tunnels, the road access to high altitude posts on Sino-India border is closed for six months every year due to snowfall and rain, and supplies are through airlift only. These tunnels will reduce the travel time and operational costs, and eliminate the risk of avalanche and landslide. List of tunnels, from west to east along the Indo-Chinese border, is as follows:[71][72]
Tunnel construction in Himalayan areas have picked up the pace. For example, Uttrakhand has 18 existing tunnels in January 2023 and 66 more tunnels will be built in next 10 years, some of which are already under construction and others are either in DPR or planning phase.[73] In may 2023, India had 1641 ongoing tunneling projects, of which national highways had 144 tunnels of 357 km costing ₹200,000 crore including 30 tunnels (45 km) completed, 16 (120 km) under construction to be completed by fy2024-25, 54 (192 km) under the Detailed Project Report (DPR) stage.[74]
| Route | Tunnel name | State | Length (km) | Operational (as of dec 2022) | Opening (yyyy (Mmm)) | Type (Road / Rail / Dual) | Status/Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jammu–Baramulla rail line tunnels | Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel | Jammu and Kashmir | 11.215 km | Y | 2013 (Dec)[75] | Rail | 3 tunnels in the project.[75] |
| T13 | Jammu and Kashmir | 9.8 km | Y | 2022 (Dec)[75] | Rail | ||
| T49 | Jammu and Kashmir | 12.758 km | N | 2023 (Dec)[75] | Rail | ||
| NH44 Jammu-Udhampur-Patnitop-Banihal-Srinagar Highway tunnels | Chenani-Nashri Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel | Jammu and Kashmir | 9.028 km | Y | 2017 (Apr) | Road | 12 tunnels on NH44, two major tunnels are Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee Tunnel & Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel.[76] |
| Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel | Jammu and Kashmir | 8.45 km | Y | 2021 (Dec) | Road | [76] | |
| 4-Nandni tunnels | Jammu and Kashmir | 1.4 km | Y | 2022 (Dec) | Road | Between Jammu-Udhampur.[76] | |
| Sudhmahadev–Dharanga Tunnel | Jammu and Kashmir | 8 km | N (under construction) | 2025? (?) | Road | Uni-directional twin-tube tunnel near Patnitop costing INR2,598 cr.[77] | |
| Khellani Tunnel | Jammu and Kashmir | 2.5 km | N (under construction) | 2025? (?) | Road | [78] | |
| NH244 Kishtwar-Qazigund-Anantnag highway | Singhpora-Vailoo tunnel (Sinthan Top Tunnel) | Jammu and Kashmir | 10.3 km | N (under construction) | 2025? (?) | Road | cost INR3,253 cr.[77][78] Cost INR4,650 cr. MoRTH approved project since before 2018. |
| NH501 Chandanwari-Sangam Highway section on Amarnath Cave yatra route. | Sheshnag-Sangam Tunnel (under Mahaguns Top aka Ganesh Top) | Jammu and Kashmir | 11 km | N (DPR) | 2029 | Road | cost INR?.
Chandanwari-Sangam Highway, including 11 km long tunnel, is 22 km long greenfield section of the national highway on the South Route (via Pahalgam) of Amarnath yatra which will connect the South (via Pahalgam) and North (via Baltal) yatra routes via the highway tunnel. In January 2023, MoRTH's NHIDCL invited RFP submissions by vendors by 20 Feb 2023 for preparation of DPR (detailed project report) which will take 10 months to prepare, subsequently after 2 months long pre-construction preparation the construction will take 5 years, with the target completion date of 31 March 2029 (total 6 years).[79] |
| Kathua-Basohli-Bani-Chattergala-Bhaderwah highway | Bhaderwah Tunnel | Jammu and Kashmir | 3.5 km | N (DPR) | 2027? (?) | Road | 2-lane tunnel.[77] Cost INR1,133 cr. MoRTH approved project since before 2018. |
| Chattergalla Tunnel | Jammu and Kashmir | 6.8 km | N (DPR) | 2027? (?) | Road | 2-lane tunnel.[77] Cost INR808 cr. MoRTH approved project since before 2018. | |
| NH144A Jammu-Akhnoor-Poonch highway tunnels (4 tunnels) | Kandi tunnel (Tunghi Morh-Chaura tunnel) | Jammu and Kashmir | ? km | N (under construction) | 2024 (Aug) | Road | Paved-shoulder highway, Jammu-Akhnoor 4-lanes & Akhnoor-Poonch 2-lanes. All 4 tunnels built by BRO.[80] |
| Sungal Tunnel (Daghun-Sungal tunnel) | Jammu and Kashmir | 2.7 km | N (under construction) | 2024 (Aug) | Road | 2-lane tunnel between Daghun village Kali Dwar temple and Chowki Choura, cost INR797 cr for 9.35 section including tunnel.[80] | |
| Nowshera tunnel (Rajal-Kallar tunnel) | Jammu and Kashmir | ? km | N (under construction) | 2024 (Aug) | Road | 2-lane.[81] | |
| Bhimbar Gali tunnel (Kalai-Bhatadurian tunnel) | Jammu and Kashmir | ? km | N (under construction) | 2024 (Aug) | Road | Paved-shoulder highway, Jammu-Akhnoor 4-lanes & Akhnoor-Poonch 2-lanes. All 4 tunnels built by BRO.[80] | |
| Poonch-Sophian Mughal Road highway tunnels | Pir ki Gali Tunnel (Chhatapani-Zaznar Tunnel) | Jammu and Kashmir | 8 km | N (DPR done) | 2025? (?) | Road | Poonch-Shopian 2-lane highway with paved shoulder and 2-lane tunnel will cost INR4,000 cr. DPR was ready in mid 2022.[82] Tunnel from Chhatapani from the Poonch side to Zaznar from Shopian, "ideally there should be another tunnel that starts from Thanamandi and ends at Buflaiz to make it an all-weather road".[83] Tunnel cost INR2,000, JICA-funded MoRTH approved project since before 2018. |
| Tangdhar-Kupwara highway tunnel | Sadhna Pass Tunnel | Jammu and Kashmir | ? km | N (DPR done) | 2025? (?) | Road | 2-lane highway with paved shoulder and 2-lane tunnel announced in dec 2021.[83] |
| Paddar-Atholi-Machail-Zanskar-Kargil highway (Hagshu La tunnel) | Paddar-Zanskar Tunnel (Machail-Zanskar Tunnel) | Jammu and Kashmir | ~350 km | N (DPR done) | 2025? (?) | Road | 2-lane highway with paved shoulder and 2-lane tunnel announced in dec 2021.[83][84] Traditional foot-track was over the Umasi La, but the new highway will be built along a slightly different alignment with a tunnel under the Hagshu La. Udhampur command HQ-Srinagar-Zoji La-Kargil-Zanskar route is ~1100 km or 25 hours of travel and Udhampur-Pader-Zanskar route will be only ~350 km or 5 hours making it shortest route to serve the Kargil-Dras defence sector. Building the highway across this alpine route will be a challenge. It will connect the Buddhist villages in 3 valleys (Gandhari, Kabban, and Machail) of Pader area of Kishtwar district with Buddhist villages of Zanskar valley in the north which have the similar culture. Kishtwar to Machail Mata road has been completed under PMGSY scheme.[85] |
| NH1 Srinagar-Kargil-Leh tunnels | Z-Morh Tunnel | Jammu and Kashmir | 6.5 km | N (under construction) | 2023 (Dec) | Dual | 2-lane tunnels, Zojila-La & Z-Morh are 100 km southwest of Kargil.[86][67][87] |
| Zoji-la Tunnel | Jammu and Kashmir | 14.2 km | N (under construction) | 2023 (Dec) | Dual | [86][67][87] | |
| Nilgrar Tunnel-I | Jammu and Kashmir | 0.433 km | N (under construction) | 2023 (Dec) | Dual | Twine-tube tunnel part of approach road to Zojila tunnel's west portal.[88] | |
| Nilgrar Tunnel-II | Jammu and Kashmir | 1.95 km | N (under construction) | 2023 (Dec) | Dual | Twine-tube tunnel part of approach road to Zojila tunnel's west portal.[88] | |
| Namika La | Ladakh | ? km | N (DPR) | 2027? (?) | ? | [89] | |
| Fotu La | Ladakh | ? km | N (DPR) | 2027? (?) | ? | [89] | |
| Kargil-Batalik-Dah-Khalatse route tunnel | Hamboting La | Ladakh | ? km | N (DPR) | 2027? (?) | Road | 31 km east of Kargil between Kargil & Batalik, provides an alternate to NH1 Kargil-Leh. |
| Leh-Khalsar-Siachen route | Khardung La | Ladakh | 5.5 km | N (DPR) | 2027? (?) | Road | 2-lane tunnel on Khardung La going north from Leh town to Siachen & Nubra valley.[89] |
| Sasoma–Saser La Road-DBO Tunnel (SSSG-DBO tunnel, Saser La - Saser Brangsa Tunnel) | Depsang Plains | Ladakh | ? km | N (DPR) | 2027? (?) | Road | On Sasoma–Sasser La-Saser Brangsa-Gapsam-Daulat Beg Oldi Road (SSSG-DBO Road), also Sasoma-Sasser La Road between Nubra Valley and Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) in Depsang Plains including a tunnel between Saser La 17,800 feet (5,400 m) to Saser Brangsa, wildlife approval for which was already granted in April 2022. As of January 2023, Sasoma (near Siachen Base Camp) in south to Saser La in north route is under-construction - which is reachable on Saser La side from Murgo in northeast by a motorable road, Saser La to Saser Brangsa in northwest is a 30 km foot track under which a highway tunnel will be built, Saser Brangsa-Gapsam-Daulat Beg Oldi section in northwest is already motorable. SSSG-DBO Road connects to Darbuk–Shyok–DBO Road (DS-DBO Road) at two places: at Daulat Beg Oldi in northwest and also via the Saser La to Murgo (on DS-DBO Road) spur in northeast.[90] |
| Darbuk–Shyok–DBO Road tunnel (DS-DBO tunnel) | Depsang Plains | Ladakh | ? km | N (DPR) | 2027? (?) | Road | 2-lane tunnel.[91] |
| Gogra-Marsimik La-Pangong Tso-Chushul-Mahe-Karzok-Tso Moriri-Kiato-Kaza-Dhar Larang-Tiuni-Paonta Sahib-Behat-Saharanpur-Delhi Highway | Several tunnels e.g. Marsimik La, Dhar Larang, Chheyuda Dhar, etc. | Ladakh, Himachal, Uttar Pradesh | ? km | N (Planning) | 2029? | Road | Karzok-Kiato has been proposed and the rest of the road is yet to be formally proposed.[92] From Gogra & Hot Springs the route will turn west to end at intersection with Darbuk–Shyok–DBO Road (DSDBO Road). Between Chusul & Marsimik La it will have tunnel under hill ranges immediately north (Marsimik) & south (Chushul & Changthang Nature Reserve) of Pangong Tso with a bridge over the Pangong Tso & tourist ropeway to peak of finger 4. |
| Hemis-Tangste-Durbuk-Pangong Tso route | Ke La | Ladakh | ? km | N (DPR) | 2027? (?) | Road | 2-lane tunnel.[89] |
| NH3 Leh-Manali Highway | Lungalacha La tunnel | Ladakh | 14.5 km | N (Tender) | 2027? (?) | Road (or Dual?) | [93][94] Cost for Lachung La tunnel INR6,747 cr. |
| Bara-lacha la | Ladakh | ? | N (Tender) | 2027? (?) | Road (or Dual?) | ||
| Tanglang La | Ladakh | 7.5 km | N (Tender) | 2027? (?) | Road (or Dual?) | Cost for Tanglang La tunnel INR3,490 cr. | |
| Rohtang Tunnel | Himachal Pradesh | 9.02 km | Y | 2020 (Jul) | Dual | ||
| NH505 | Kunzum Pass Tunnel (west of Kaza, between Manali-Kaza) | Himachal Pradesh | ? km | N (planned) | ? (?) | Road | NH505 connects Kaza to Manali in the southwest, and via Sumdo to the Sino-Indian border in the east and the Kinnaur district in the southeast. The Kaza-Tabo-Shimla route is open whole year, but the Manali-Kaza route is closed for 5–7 months every year due to the closure of the Kunzum Pass (15,000 ft) by snows. NH505 is the arterial highway through Spiti, and has been vital for this region's development.[95] NHAI is planning to construct a tunnel under the Kunzum Pass to provide all-weather connectivity between Manali and Spiti valley.[96] |
| Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road | Shingo La Tunnel | Himachal Pradesh | 4.25 km | N (under construction) | 2027? (?) | Road | Provides an alternate route to NH3 Leh-Manali Highway to reach Leh. Cost INR4,095 cr for 8.8 km tunnel & approach Road. |
|
NH154 Pathankot-Joginder Nagar-Mandi Highway upgrade to 4-lanes |
3 new tunnels | Himachal Pradesh | ? | Y (being upgraded) | 2025? (?) | Road | 3 new tunnels between Joginder Nagar-Mandi newcalignment, 3 rail overbridges & 8 bypasses elsewhere on this upgraded route. Kangra-Shimla, Kiratpur-Manali, Shimla-Kalka National highways are also being upgraded to four lanes with several new tunnels on each of these routes.[97] |
| Harsil-Kharcham Highway | Lamkhaga Pass tunnel | Himachal & Uttrakhand | ? | N (DPR) | 2027? (?) | Road | Connect Harsil & Kharcham via Lamkhaga Pass tunnel, & connect to Pooh-Chumar-Hanle Highway.[98] |
| Char Dham Railway | Char Dham rail tunnels | Uttrakhand | ? | N (DPR) | 2027? (?) | Rail | Char Dham Railway multiple rail tunnels. |
| Char Dham Highway | Char Dham highway tunnels | Uttrakhand | ? km | N (under construction) | 2024 (Dec) | Road | Char Dham Highway multiple road tunnels e.g. Chamba tunnel |
| Chamba tunnel | Uttrakhand | 0.440 km | Y | 2021 (Jan) | Road | Under the town on Rishikesh-Dharasu road.[69] | |
| Dabarkot twin-tube tunnel | Uttrakhand | 2 km | N (DPR) | 2026 | Road | Under landslide prone area of Dabarkot on Yamunotri Highway. DPR was prepared in late 2022 and construction will take 4 years.[99] | |
| Rudraprayag bypass tunnel | Uttrakhand | 0.900 km | N (under construction) | Road | 2024 | On Badrinath route, cost INR200 cr (US$25 million), construction began in November 2022.[100] | |
| Ranipokhri tunnel (Dehradun-Tehri tunnel) | Uttrakhand | 27 km | N (DPR) | Road | 2026? | Between Dehradun & Tehri on ~35 km long greenfield alignment including 27 to 28 km long tunnel, starts from Ranipokhri in south. Tunnel alignment was being finalized in December 2022.[101] | |
| Budi-Garbyang tunnel on Pithoragarh-Lipulekh Pass Highway (PLPH) or Kailash-Mansarovar Road (KMR). | Uttrakhand | 6 km | N (DPR) | Road | 2029? | Rs2000 cr 2-lane tunnel, on Kailash-Mansarovar yatra route.[102] | |
| NH310A Chungthang-Tung North Sikkim highway | Theng Tunnel | Sikkim | 0.578 km | Y | 2018 (Oct) | Road | |
| NH6 Silchar-Shillong Highway | Sonapur Tunnel | Meghalaya | 0.120 km | Y | 2008 (Sept) | Road | On NH6 (old NH44) inside Narpuh Sanctuary northwest of Silchar, connects Meghalaya with Assam's Barak Valley in Meghalaya's southeast.[69] |
| Brahmaputra River | Numaligarh-Gohpur under-river tunnel | Assam | 15.6 km | N (DPR) | 2029? (?) | Dual | Twin-tubes 22 metres below river connecting NH-52 and Numaligarh on NH-37 will cost Rs 12,807 crore (US$1.7 b).[103][104] |
| NH13 Bogibeel (Assam)-Tawang Highway | Nechiphu Pass | Arunachal Pradesh | 0.5 km | N (under construction) | 2023 (Jan) | Dual | 2-lane tunnel halfway between Tawang & Dirang |
| Sela Tunnels | Arunachal Pradesh | 1.790 km & 0.475 km | N (under construction) | 2023 (Jan) | Dual | D-shaped single-tube Nechiphu Pass tunnel halfway between Bomdila & Bhalukpong. |
Sagarmala port development project and the National Waterways projects will also enhance geostrategic capabilities along LAC and elsewhere. Waterway projects in Assam on Brahmaputra River and its tributaries are of geostrategic importance for the movement of military assets, these include National Waterway 2 and Subansiri River.
Gohpur–Numaligarh under-river tunnel, is an under construction tunnel under the Brahmaputra river.[105]
In June 2020, it was announced that 54 villages in the Ladakh region; including the Demchok is among the 19 in Kargil, 11 in Zanskar and 7 in Nubra Valley; will receive mobile phone connectivity from Jio via the satellite connected towers under the Universal Service Obligation Funding (USOF) programme.[106]
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