India has launched  plans to construct 500 km of railway lines in the northeastern region along the border with China, estimated at Rs 300 billion (USD 3.4 billion), with a completion target of four years.

According to a Bloomberg report, the initiative seeks to improve logistics, accessibility, and military preparedness in strategically sensitive areas, despite ongoing efforts to stabilize relations with China following past border tensions. The project will include tunnels, bridges, and links to remote regions adjoining China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Bhutan. This move complements India’s extensive highway development over the past decade, which has seen 9,984 km of motorways built with an investment of Rs 1.07 trillion, and another 5,055 km currently under construction.

The integrated approach of rail and road networks aims to strengthen both civilian mobility and defense logistics. Enhanced connectivity is also expected to accelerate emergency response capabilities during natural disasters or potential security crises, underlining India’s strategy of balancing diplomacy with robust infrastructure preparedness.