Arunachal Pradesh border infrastructure is expanding, with around 4,000 kilometres of roads built in the state since 2015, Governor Lieutenant General (retd.) Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik said at a conference in Pune on September 5. He said the Frontier Highway and improved connectivity to border villages were strengthening India’s presence along the frontier with China.
Parnaik was speaking at the opening of the China Conference 2026, organised by the Pune International Centre and the Centre for China Analysis and Strategy. Pune International Centre vice-president Vijay Kelkar and Centre for China Analysis and Strategy president Jayadeva Ranade were also present at the event.
According to Parnaik, Arunachal Pradesh previously had limited road and communication infrastructure. The road construction undertaken since 2015 has expanded connectivity to villages in border areas, while the Frontier Highway is expected to make the movement of the armed forces easier in difficult terrain. He also called for greater support for mountaineering, tourism and other activities in border regions.
Parnaik linked the infrastructure expansion to what he described as China’s efforts to strengthen its position near the border. He said China had developed roads, railways and other infrastructure in Tibet to enable faster troop movement and larger deployments. He also referred to China’s use of cyber, electronic, information and satellite capabilities to monitor India’s border areas.
The governor said China’s claims over parts of Arunachal Pradesh made it necessary for India to establish a stronger presence in the region. He said the response should include not only roads and other physical infrastructure but also economic and civilian activity in border areas.
The conference also examined the wider strategic relationship between India and China. Kelkar said the relationship needed to be studied through economic, strategic, technological, diplomatic and social perspectives rather than through a single lens.
Former ambassador Gautam Bambawale moderated a session with former Army chief General (retd.) Manoj Pande and Ranade. Ranade said Chinese President Xi Jinping had consolidated control over the ruling party and was likely to retain power in the coming election. Pande said India needed stronger coordination among the three armed forces, closer surveillance of border areas and greater emphasis on intelligence. These remarks were made during discussions at the conference and were not accompanied by new government project documents in the report.
Parnaik’s remarks place the Frontier Highway and the reported expansion of road connectivity within India’s broader effort to improve access and infrastructure in Arunachal Pradesh. The report did not provide a project-wise breakdown of the 4,000-kilometre figure, construction costs or completion schedules.
