China’s New Strategic Highway
Source : Economic Times
GS II : India and its neighbourhood- relations

Why in News?

China has completed the construction of a strategic highway through the Brahmaputra Canyon, stated to be the world’s deepest, close to the Arunachal Pradesh border ahead of its plan to build a mega-dam over the gorge.

• The highway project was started in 2014.

Key Facts

• China’s New Strategic Highway construction of a highway passing through the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon known as the world’s deepest gorge with a maximum depth of 6,009 meters was completed.
  • Brahmaputra river is known as Yarlung Zangbo in Tibet.
• New highway was built on the former hiking route between Nyingchi’s Pad Township and Baibung Township, Medog County.
  • It is an altitude difference of up to 2,892 meters between the highest and lowest spots of the road.
• It is the second significant passageway to Medog following the first one connecting the county and Zhamog Township, Bomi County.
• Road length connecting the city proper of Nyingchi and Medog County will be shortened to 180 kms from 346 kms.

Disputed Region

• China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of South Tibet, which is firmly rejected by India.
• The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• China has already cleared a plan to build a mega-dam over Brahmaputra Canyon.

The Brahmaputra

• The Brahmaputra is the longest river in Tibet.
• Its valley is the world’s deepest with a 7,000-metre drop from the highest mountain peak to the lowest basin.
• Origin in the Manasarovar Lake.
• It is the 9th largest river in the world by discharge, and the 15th longest.
• The Brahmaputra River, known as the Yarlung Tsangpo.
• In Bangladesh, the Brahmaputra is joined by the Teesta River.

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