Govt mulling India-Nepal border road construction

NEW DELHI: The Government is considering a proposal for construction of roads along the India-Nepal and India-Bhutan borders.

Giving this information in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today, Minister of State for Home Radhika V Selvi said the development of border roads would improve border infrastructure thereby leading to enhanced connectivity, promote cross-border economic integration and strengthening the development of the area.

"This would also be helpful in effective patrolling, communication and check trans-border crimes and anti-national activities," she said, adding it would also facilitate better movement of border guarding forces.

In reply to another question, she said while India has a 1,751 km of open and porous border with Nepal, no cases of intrusion of terrorists and extremists have been reported by the Border Guarding Forces deployed on the Indo-Nepal border.

She, however, said because of the internal situation in Nepal, some significant activities of Maoists have been reported in areas of Nepal bordering India.

Selvi added that there are no reports confirming any intrusion of Maoists from Nepal in the bordering areas of Uttarakhand and damage to Indian property.