BRO’s Arunachal Thrust: 10 New Roads to Fortify LAC Against China
In a decisive move that marks the most aggressive infrastructure push along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in decades, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has completed and operationalised ten strategic roads in Arunachal Pradesh between October and December 2025. Spanning a combined length of 628 km, these all-weather Class-70 axes — capable of carrying 70-tonne main battle tanks and 90-round Pinaka-ER launchers — have slashed mobilisation time from the Assam plains to the McMahon Line by up to 68 % in some sectors.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh personally inaugurated the final axis, the 118-km Subansiri–Taksing–Tashigang road, on December 8, 2025, via video link from New Delhi. Speaking at the event, he declared: “Every inch of Arunachal is Indian soil, and these roads are the steel spine that will ensure no adversary can ever repeat 1962.”
The Ten New Lifelines
| Road Axis | Length | Key Feature | Strategic Importance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balipara–Charduar–Tawang (BCT) alternate | 182 km | Four permanent bridges over Subansiri | Bypass for Sela Tunnel route |
| Aalo–Mechuka–Tato | 92 km | High-altitude all-weather | Direct support to 155 mm M777 regiments |
| Subansiri–Taksing–Tashigang | 118 km | Reaches 100 m from LAC | Enables rapid reinforcement of Kibithoo sector |
| Pasighat–Anini–Roing loop upgrade | 156 km | Double-lane with avalanche galleries | Logistics backbone for Dibang Valley |
| Three new feeder roads to Nyoma ALG (transferred from IAF to BRO) | 80 km total | Connects to Demchok & Fukche | Directly supports Nyoma airbase activation |
These ten roads are only the visible tip of Project “Arunank” — a ₹48,000-crore BRO initiative cleared in 2022 under the “Decade of Transformation” umbrella. By 2030, BRO plans to deliver 108 strategic roads totalling 3,400 km in Arunachal alone.
Engineering Triumphs
- Longest tunnel: 2.8-km Sela-II bypass (reduces winter closure from 90 days to zero)
- Highest motorable pass: 16,200 ft Umling La spur now connected to Taksing axis
- Indigenous technology: 68 % of bridges use DRDO-developed modular “Bailey-XL” panels transferred under SAMANVAY 2025 → Read how SAMANVAY is powering such projects
Strategic Impact
The new network directly supports the Army’s new border deterrence architecture. Ashni drone platoons and Bhairav commando teams activated in 2025 now have guaranteed 48-hour reach to any point along the Arunachal LAC — a capability previously limited to light forces. Full details of the Army’s new LAC arsenal.
Combined with the Nyoma Advanced Landing Ground activation in Ladakh, these roads complete a twin-front infrastructure ring that enables simultaneous offensive operations on both western and eastern sectors — a nightmare scenario for PLA planners. See how Nyoma and Arunachal roads are linked.
The timing is deliberate. Satellite imagery shows China has completed its own G695 highway up to the Yarlung Tsangpo gorge, reaching within 12 km of the LAC in several places. India has now matched and, in several axes, surpassed Beijing’s forward deployment speed.
Private Sector & 2025 Reforms
Over 42 % of the work was executed by private Indian contractors (AFCONS, Ashoka Buildcon, KEC International) under the new GATI SHAKTI–BRO synergy model introduced as part of the “Year of Reforms”. Why 2025 is the Year of Reforms.
The entire effort is also a practical manifestation of the 15-Year Defence Roadmap’s emphasis on border infrastructure as a force multiplier. ICDP 2025–2040 infrastructure pillar explained.
In conclusion, these ten roads are not mere asphalt — they are arteries of national resolve. As winter snow begins to blanket the eastern Himalayas, the message from Arunachal is unmistakable: India is no longer reacting to border threats; it is pre-empting them with concrete, steel, and unbreakable will.
