By IANS
New Delhi : The central government is mulling a proposal to construct roads along the Nepal and Bhutan borders to improve infrastructure and promote cross-border economic integration.
“The ministry of home affairs is considering a proposal for construction of roads along the India-Nepal and India-Bhutan borders,” Minister of State Radhika V. Selvi informed the Rajya Sabha Wednesday.
“The construction of border roads along the India-Nepal border would improve border infrastructure, thereby leading to enhanced connectivity and promote cross-border economic integration and development of the area,” Selvi added.
India shares over 1,750 km of border with Nepal and at least 699 km with Bhutan.
Central paramilitary Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which guards these borders, has urged the government to put up an identification system on the borders of Nepal and Bhutan to keep tabs on people entering India.
Indians do not need visa to visit Nepal and Bhutan. Nepalese and Bhutanese people also freely travel to India.
The minister said: “Construction of roads would also be helpful in effective patrolling and communication and check trans-border crimes and anti-national activities. This will also facilitate better movement of border guarding forces.”
The SSB arrested 1,036 people in 2006 for smuggling narcotics, contraband, fake currency, forest produce and weapons. In 2005, it arrested 338 people for smuggling.