Itanagar: Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein has said the Arunachal Pradesh government has initiated several infrastructure development programmes in areas of the northeastern state bordering China, Bhutan and Myanmar.

The Minister informed the assembly about the development on Thursday.

Under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP), infrastructure has been developed in 65 model villages, the deputy chief minister was quoted as saying by East Mojo.

Mein was responding to a question by Congress MLA Ninong Ering on the steps taken by the state government in view of the construction activities carried out by China along the international border with India.

For developing the education sector, four new Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalayas (VKVs) and four such existing schools have been upgraded under BADP with an estimated cost of Rs 80 crore, he said.

Moreover, eight model schools have been established in the border area during 2017-18, the deputy chief minister said.

“To address infrastructure gaps at the border, development projects such as road connectivity, foot suspension bridges, health facilities, drinking water and electricity facilities have been provided through the normal allocation of BADP fund and also from the state fund,” Mein was quoted as saying by East Mojo.