Old Ties, New Roads: India Now Has All-Weather Highway Near Doklam In Bhutan – Why It Matters

Remember the 2017 India-China skirmish near the Doklam region? Now, India has made a significant inroad, quite literally, near the contested area which might irk China. Around 8 years ago, Indian and Chinese troops had a confrontation in Doklam, fueled by China’s road construction in the region.

Doklam is a disputed region near the India-China-Bhutan tri-junction. Now, India has inaugurated an all-weather highway near the area, which leads to the Haa Valley in Bhutan. This is a significant infrastructural development by India near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to improve mobility and military movement.

Notably, the development comes at a time when China has formally started constructing a massive dam on the Brahmaputra river close to the border with Arunachal Pradesh.

Why India’s new road in Bhutan is big news?

Just around 21 km from Doklam, where India and China had a standoff in 2017, this new all-weather road connects to Bhutan’s Haa Valley and has been developed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) at a cost of about Rs 254 crore. It was inaugurated by Bhutan’s PM Tobgay Tshering on August 1.

For the common man, this road will boost connectivity but for the security forces, it could be a gamechanger. The upgraded Confluence–Haa Road also aims to improve transport, tourism, and logistics.

While the BRO has been working in Bhutan since the 1960s, the work on the new highway was fastracked post the 73-day Doklam standoff in 2017. The BRO has built 5 bridges along the road, which would allow travel in all weather conditions. The road is part of BRO’s Project Dantak.

What is BRO’s Project Dantak?

Project Dantak is one of the oldest projects of the BRO, raised in April 1961 with its headquarters at Deothang, for road and other infrastructure works in order to assist in socio-economic and strategic development in Bhutan. It has completed construction of 1650 km of black topped roads and 115 km of tracks in Bhutan with 5150 meters of bridges.

Today Dantak is a household name in Bhutan. It has carved a niche for itself in this beautiful Kingdom with the goodwill of citizens of Bhutan, Royal patronage and the support of all concerned.

How will this road help India in countering Chinese influence?

China is known for encroaching territories and claiming them its own. This new road built by the BRO leads to the Chumbi Valley in the Tibet Autonomous Region, where Chinese soldiers are deployed. With this new all-weather road, the Bhutanese Army would be able to easily reach the border near the Chumbi Valley.

It will also help with the movement of supplies. While Bhutan will use the road for now, India will also benefit if there is a need in the future, media reports said.

In addition to the several encroachments, China has also developed a wide network of roads and military villages near Doklam in the Chumbi Valley. These can be transformed into military barracks in case of conflict, considering Doklam’s strategical importance for its closeness to India, China, and Bhutan.

While India and Bhutan consider it part of Bhutanese territory, China says it is an extension of its Chumbi Valley.

Doklam’s proximity to ‘Chicken neck’: A cause of concern?

India’s northeastern states are connected with the country via a narrow strip called the Siliguri Corridor or the ‘Chicken’s Neck’.  Any Chinese military interventions in this 20-25 km corridor could cause a strain at India’s connectivity with the Northeast. China is not only making roads in the Doklam area but has constructing fake villages.