Pune: Minister of state for defence Shripad Naik said on Thursday that key road projects along the India-China border would be completed within the deadline.

“I understand that efforts are being made by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to complete the pending India-China border road and Rohtang tunnel project within the timeframe committed by the organisation. No slippage will be permitted in these critical timelines,” Naik said while addressing the concluding session of the annual chief engineers’ conference at the General Reserved Engineering Force (GREF) at Dighi near here.

“India needs to construct strategic roads considering security needs along the India-China border. I am aware that the BRO has certain challenges due to terrain, climate and other factors. But I am happy that the organisation has overcome all kinds of challenges successfully and enhanced the pace of construction by adopting contemporary technologies and procedures in this area,” he said.

The BRO’s objective is to complete 61 strategic road projects along the northern border with China spread across Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh by December 2022, army sources said.

“These projects are crucial for the Indian Army to strengthen its military infrastructure along the China border. The army has planned a field habitat for troops, deployment of permanent forces and improvement in military aviation and operational logistics infrastructure, including permanent accommodation for troops,” a senior army officer, who has served in the northern and north eastern sectors, told TOI on Thursday.