Govt to expedite infrastructure development works to neighbouring countries

The Centre has decided to expedite construction of roads and develop other infrastructure along the borders with Bangladesh and Bhutan to check illegal movement of people and smuggling of contraband and fake currency notes.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh and attended by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal besides others, officials said.

Speaking to the press, Sonowal said, "The meeting decided to expedite the construction of roads and other infrastructure works along the Indo-Bangladesh and the Indo-Bhutan border,".

An official privy to the meeting said the home minister directed the officials to improve all necessary infrastructure along the two international borders so that illegal movement of people is checked and smuggling of contraband and fake Indian currency notes is completely halted.

The India-Bangladesh border is 4,096 km long and it touches West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, while the Indo-Bhutan border is 699 km long and touches Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.