It may be noted that the dispute over the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China started in May last year when China raised objections towards the construction of the road in the Galwan Valley of Aksai Chin in Ladakh.
On May 5, a violent skirmish broke out between the Indian Army and Chinese troops. After this, Chinese soldiers also clashed with Indian soldiers at Nathu La in Sikkim on 9 May, in which many soldiers were injured.
On June 15, there was a clash between India and Chinese soldiers in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh, in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.
After this, many level talks have been held between India and China, but no solution has been found on the deadlock.
Then Indian government banned more than 100 Chinese apps
It is in this situation Amid LAC row, Indian government awarded contract for 5.6 KM long tunnel for Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor to a Chinese company called Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Company Limited.
The company made the lowest bid in June last year for the project, but the contract was put on hold due to ongoing dispute over the border.
But now The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has awarded the contract for a part of the Delhi-Meerut Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) to the Chinese company Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Company Limited.
This company will build 5.6 km underground stretch between New Ashok Nagar and Sahibabad.
“The bidding was done by many agencies and approval has to be taken at various levels for it.
This bid was allowed only after the prescribed procedure and guidelines,” NCRTC spokesperson told media.
“To complete this project on time, construction work is going on fast on the 82-km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor,” he added.
The Central Government approved the Semi High-Speed Rail Corridor between Delhi and Meerut in February 2018.
To complete the 82.15 km long Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), been given estimate cost a total of Rs 30,274 crore.
After the completion of this project, the time taken for the journey to Delhi and Meerut will be reduced.
The proposed 82.15 km long RRTS will have 68.03 km of elevated and 14.12 km of underground track.