Arunachal chief minister Pema Khandu said on Monday that a two-lane 1,465-km Frontier Highway will be constructed by the Union ministry of road transport and highways at an estimated cost of Rs 27,349 crore that will change the road connectivity scenario along the border area from east to west in the frontier state claimed by China as an extension of South Tibet.

Khandu said this while dedicating the extended and renovated War Memorial to the nation in Tawang on Monday on the 60th year of the 1962 Indo-China war along with GOC Eastern Command Lt General R.P. Kalita. The War Memorial, in picturesque Tawang, commemorates the martyred soldiers of the 1962 war.

Khandu said: “1962 was history and will never be repeated ever. In 1962, the scenario was very different. The infrastructure in the region was very poor. Despite that the Indian Army fought bravely and sacrificed thousands of lives to protect the motherland. But today, we are not what we were in 1962.”

Crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the infrastructure boost in Arunachal Pradesh and the Northeast since coming to power in 2014, Khandu said: “Being witness to the love and attention by the central and state governments for welfare of the soldiers posted at border outposts, the morale of our soldiers is very high. Same is the case with our civilians residing in border areas. They are ready to fight any enemy contingent shoulder to shoulder with the Indian Army.”

Modi had on Saturday flagged the Centre’s ongoing efforts to develop villages lying along the international border in Arunachal Pradesh while inaugurating the frontier’s state first greenfield airport and the northeast’s largest hydropower project.

Modi had said, “We are working on mission mode to carry the development forward to every house and village in the state which will give a boost to tourism and reduce migration in the region.” Arunachal shares 1,126- km border with China.