Indo-Nepal Border Road

The project for Indo-Nepal Border Road was conceived by George Fernandes who was the Defence Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. This road was initially planned during the Vajpayee Government. After that in November 2010, Central Government of India decided to construct a road parallel to the Indo-Nepal international border from Bihar to Uttarakhand having a length of {{convert|1377|km|mi}}. The project is known as Indo-Nepal Border Road Project. The foundation stone of the project was laid on 25 June 2013 in Supaul district of Bihar by the then Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde of Manmohan Singh government, in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of Bihar Government. It covers the length of {{convert|564|km|mi}} in Bihar, {{convert|640|km|mi}} in Uttar Pradesh and {{convert|173|km|mi}} in Uttarakhand. It is a strategic border road for the easy mobility of SSB troops. The cost of the project was initially estimated to Rs 3,853 crore. But due to the delay in completion of the project, the cost of the project is enhancing with the time.{{Cite web |last = Ranjan |first = Abhinav |date = 7 April 2022 |title = Launched in 2010, Indo-Nepal border road project is only 29% complete: CAG |url = https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/launched-in-2010-indo-nepal-border-road-project-is-only-29-per-cncent-complete-cag-2022-04-07-768264 |access-date = 16 June 2024 |website = India TV News |language = en }}{{Cite web |title = नेपाल सीमा पर 2451 करोड़ से बनेगी 400 किमी सड़क, परियोजना से यूपी के इन सात जिलों को मिलेगा लाभ - lucknow news 400 km road will be built on Nepal border with 2451 crores pilibhit shravasti lakhimpur and these seven districts of UP will get benefit from the project |url = https://www.jagran.com/uttar-pradesh/lucknow-city-lucknow-news-400-km-road-will-be-built-on-nepal-border-with-2451-crores-pilibhit-shravasti-lakhimpur-and-these-seven-districts-of-up-will-get-benefit-from-the-project-23460734.html |access-date = 16 June 2024 |website = Jagran |language = hi }} The executive agencies of the project are Public Works Department (PWD) and Road Construction Department (RCD) in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.{{Cite web |last = PTI |date = 7 February 2024 |title = PAC expresses disappointment over delay in Indo-Nepal road project; asks MHA to finish incomplete work |url = https://theprint.in/india/pac-expresses-disappointment-over-delay-in-indo-nepal-road-project-asks-mha-to-finish-incomplete-work/1958043/ |access-date = 16 June 2024 |website = ThePrint |language = en-US }} The cost of the construction of the road is to be paid by the central government and the costs of the acquisition of lands are to be paid by the respective state governments. In Bihar the road starts at Galgalia in Kishanganj district near Bihar–West Bengal border and ends at Madanpur in West Champaran district near the Bihar–UP border.{{Cite news |date = 12 January 2019 |title = CM Nitish Kumar for four-laning of Indo-Nepal border road |url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/nitish-for-four-laning-of-indo-nepal-border-road/articleshow/67493371.cms |access-date = 16 June 2024 |work = The Times of India |issn = 0971-8257 }} The road passes through seven districts of Bihar. These districts are West Champaran, East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria and Kishanganj.{{Cite news |date = 26 June 2013 |title = Indo-Nepal border road to help SSB personnel keep close vigil |url = https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/indo-nepal-border-road-to-help-ssb-personnel-keep-close-vigil/articleshow/20781056.cms?from=mdr |access-date = 16 June 2024 |work = The Economic Times |issn = 0013-0389 }} Similarly in Uttar Pradesh also the road passes through seven districts, they are Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich, Shravasti, Balrampur, Siddharthnagar and Mahrajganj.{{Cite web |title = Indo Nepal Road Projects |url = https://uppwd.gov.in/pages/en-externally-aided-project-en/indo-nepal-road-projects |access-date = 16 June 2024 |publisher = Public Works Department, Uttar Pradesh}}{{Cite web |title = नेपाल सीमा पर 2451 करोड़ से बनेगी 400 किमी सड़क, परियोजना से यूपी के इन सात जिलों को मिलेगा लाभ - lucknow news 400 km road will be built on Nepal border with 2451 crores pilibhit shravasti lakhimpur and these seven districts of UP will get benefit from the project |url = https://www.jagran.com/uttar-pradesh/lucknow-city-lucknow-news-400-km-road-will-be-built-on-nepal-border-with-2451-crores-pilibhit-shravasti-lakhimpur-and-these-seven-districts-of-up-will-get-benefit-from-the-project-23460734.html |access-date = 16 June 2024 |website = Jagran |language = hi }}

Since Indo-Nepal borders are open and porous in nature, it has become sensitive for anti-national and anti-social activities. The border areas are surrounded by problems including illegal infiltration, drug trafficking, counterfeit currencies, human trafficking and other criminal activities. For the safety of the borders the government of India designated SSB near these borders line. But due to lack of road connectivity in these areas, SSB forces were facing difficulties in the movements of their vehicles and military transportations. Therefore the central government of India initiated the construction of the highway to connect the BOPs of the SSB forces in these areas.{{Cite news |date = 1 May 2012 |title = Central nod for Rs 1702cr Bihar-Nepal border road |url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/central-nod-for-rs-1702cr-bihar-nepal-border-road/articleshow/12945970.cms |access-date = 16 June 2024 |work = The Times of India |issn = 0971-8257 }} Apart from security prospective, the road is also beneficial for economic activities around the areas connected to the highway.{{Cite news |title=व्यापार को मिलेगा बढ़ावा:100 फीट चौड़ी होगी इंडो-नेपाल सीमा सुरक्षा सड़क, बदलेगी बॉर्डर के इलाकों की सूरत |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/bihar/bettiah/mainatand/news/indo-nepal-border-security-road-will-be-100-feet-wide-will-change-the-face-of-border-areas-130812404.html |work=Dainik Bhaskar}}

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Category:India–Nepal relations

Category:Roads in India