India Ramps Up Himalayan Infrastructure After Galwan Clash
- By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
- Dec 28, 2025
- 594
India is investing thousands of crores of rupees in roads, tunnels, airstrips and military logistics across the Himalayan region to strengthen its preparedness for any future confrontation with China, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The infrastructure push gained urgency after the deadly 2020 Galwan Valley clash, which exposed serious logistical weaknesses along the 2,200-mile Line of Actual Control (LAC). While China had already built an extensive network of roads and railways along its border, India struggled to rapidly move troops and supplies through difficult mountainous terrain.
During the Galwan incident, soldiers from both sides fought with clubs and batons at an altitude of nearly 14,000 feet. Experts noted that China could deploy reinforcements within hours, while India would need several days due to limited connectivity.
Former Ladakh logistics chief Major General Amrit Pal Singh said the clash forced India to overhaul its border strategy. Lieutenant General Deependra Singh Hooda, former Northern Army Commander, stated that the new projects aim to connect high-altitude military posts with isolated civilian settlements, especially those cut off during winter.
A key project is the 15-km Zojila Tunnel, being built at 11,500 feet at a cost of over ₹6,700 crore. Scheduled for completion by 2028, the tunnel will drastically reduce travel time between Srinagar and Ladakh and ensure year-round connectivity for troop and supply movement.
Currently, supplies reach Ladakh through a multi-stage process involving trucks, porters and pack animals. Each soldier requires about 220 pounds of supplies monthly, while small posts consume large quantities of fuel daily, often carried manually. The tunnel is expected to transform logistics efficiency in the region.
India has also constructed over 30 helipads, upgraded airstrips, and developed the Mudh-Nyoma Air Force Base in Ladakh, just 19 miles from the Chinese border. The base can host heavy transport aircraft such as the C-130J.
The Border Roads Organisation’s budget has increased sharply, alongside a nearly 60% rise in India’s overall defence spending since 2020. Thousands of miles of new border roads have already been completed.
Meanwhile, tensions persist around Pangong Tso, where both India and China continue infrastructure development despite disengagement agreements. China has also built a strategic bridge across the lake to speed troop movement.
Separately, a US Pentagon report revealed that China’s PLA plans to establish military bases in 21 countries, including Bangladesh and Pakistan, aiming to expand its global military and intelligence reach.
Experts warn that China’s growing overseas logistics network could significantly enhance its ability to monitor and counter the operations of the US and its allies.