Indian Army will construct 4 tunnels to store ammunition

New Delhi: The Indian Army and NHPC Limited on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to construct four tunnels for storage of ammunition along the China and Pakistan border.

This is a pilot project and the tunnels are expected to be completed within two years, said sources.

At present, ammunition dumps are mostly over-ground and could be targeted by the enemies and their spies. One of the ammunition dump in Jammu and Kashmir was under threat during an unsuccessful attack by Pakistan Air Force on February 27. According to sources, three tunnels will be constructed along the China border and one in Jammu and Kashmir along Pakistan border.

Earlier, the Army has tried to construct these tunnels, but was mostly unsuccessful as there was dampness. Later, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited was selected as it has expertise for such a project and it was also cost effective. The tunnel can store 175-200 metric tonnes of ammunition.

China has such tunnels to store the ammunitions. The cost of the pilot project is around Rs 15 crore. The MoU was signed by Lt. Gen. Nav K. Khanduri.

“A (MoU) has been signed between the NHPC and the Indian Army for ‘construction of underground caverns and semi-underground bunkers’ at various locations in India on turnkey basis,” said NHPC in a statement. It said that as per the MoU, NHPC shall be responsible for design and engineering, civil construction, project management and execution of the projects. “The MoU was signed by Lt. Gen. Nav K. Khanduri on behalf of the Indian Army and Cherian Mathew, executive director, Renewable Energy and Consultancy, on behalf of the NHPC,” the statement said.