The artillery guns were stuck at a landslide-prone area where the road was permanently damaged just ahead of LAC, but sources say the road at the point has improved now
The Indian Army carried out two trials in the last few years to transport Bofors to Kibithu in Arunachal Pradesh and enhance defences against China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), but crumbling roads and weak bridges were an obstacle.
The artillery guns were stuck at a landslide-prone area where the road was permanently damaged just ahead of LAC, but sources say the road at the point has improved now.
If need be, Bofors will reach LAC, but its quick movement during an emergency is difficult, sources told DNA.
DNA travelled to Kibithu in the North-Eastern state neighbouring China and witnessed poor infrastructure.
The Army is keen to have Bofors stationed in this "sensitive" zone on the eastern most tip of India, but has to wait for double-lane roads and class-70 bridges that can take at least 70 tonnes of weight to transport the gun towed with a vehicle.
A class 70 road can comfortably take the load of heavy guns and tanks.
Bofors played a key role during the 1999 Kargil conflict in Kashmir in providing firepower to the infantry launching assaults on Pakistani forces who had a strategic advantage of occupying mountainous heights.
Sources said that the trials were conducted from Tezu to Kibithu, a distance of 225 km, and transportation was sluggish as manoeuvring the gun-towing vehicles was a challenge.
"On sharp bends, the gun had to be unhinged from the towing vehicle and taken forward. The same exercise is needed on weak bridges, and it can take up to an hour to do the drill," said an Army source.
After crossing a stretch of barely 40-50 metrers, the gun is again attached to the vehicle, making transport extremely slow.
Work on the double-lane project for the 200 km stretch from Tezu to Walong that is 25 km away from LAC has begun, but completion is still a long way away, sources said.
Work has started on a 50 km stretch on the route.
Two class 70 bridges are also in the pipeline.
Normal Army convoys from Tezu take up to two days, and movement of heavy armaments like Bofors will take even longer.
The trials took place even before the Doklam faceoff took place last year between Indian and Chinese troop on the India-China-Bhutan tri junction in Sikkim. The confrontation triggered a diplomatic row after the Indian Army stopped the Chinese from a building a road in the region, citing violation of agreement on maintaining status quo by all three parties.
Currently the Army has 105 mm artillery guns stationed near Kibithu on LAC.
The ultra light M 777 Howitzer guns used by US forces in Afghanistan were expected to be the game changer against China in securing India's border in the tough mountainous terrains of Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
The light weight guns can be transported by air unlike Bofors that have to be carried to high altitude regions only by road. It can also be dismantled and transported by road.
Two guns were procured last year, but in a setback, the barrel of one gun got damaged during test firing due to defective ammunition.
The Chinese have enhanced their defences with a newly constructed three-storied Army camp at Tatu opposite Kibithu across LAC in the last few years and have a class 70 road till the frontier.
While their numbers at the new camp are close to 100, they have a full-fledged brigade with over 2,000 troops in Langzu that is 60-70 km away from LAC.
The Indian Army always has close to 800 troops deployed in the forward area.
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