The Hindu Business Line : Cabinet gives approval for alternative route to Leh

Briefing presspersons after the meeting, the Defence Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee had said the new all-weather 292-km road would be built at a total cost of Rs 1,355 crore.

For making this route motorable throughout the year, the CCS has approved the construction of an 8.8 km-long tunnel under the Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh at a cost of Rs 943.32 crore. Approach roads leading to it will be double lane from both sides and will be constructed at a cost of Rs 180 crore, Mr Mukherjee said. The stretch of the road via Darchu in Keylong district of Himachal Pradesh and Padam, the capital of Zanskar region, and Nimu on the outskirts of Leh would be laid at a cost of Rs 286.85 crore, he said.

Among other decisions, India and China will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in intelligence sharing and exchange of security-related information during a five-day visit of the Home Minister Mr Shivraj Patil to China, he said. The MoU on intelligence sharing and exchange of security related information is to combat crimes such as terrorism.

The Government also cleared the raising of four Territorial Army battalions comprising local tribals in the North East as well as an additional one in Jammu and Kashmir. To be called `Home and Hearth Battalions', each consisting of nearly 1,000 personnel, the contingents will be raised one each in Assam, Nagaland and Manipur and one in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Mukherjee said.

The Government also announced a special package to re-arm forces in nine naxalite-hit States, including Andhra Pradesh, under which they will be given an additional grant of Rs 2 crore annually.

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