The Indian Army is moving ahead with a major force-preservation plan to protect troops, ammunition and critical military assets along the borders with China and Pakistan. Precision-guided weapons have made traditional surface installations more vulnerable to enemy strikes, and the Army is now going underground in response.
19 Underground Projects Under Northern Command
The Army’s Northern Command has launched 19 separate projects to build underground protective infrastructure across its operational theatre. Each facility is being designed for specific operational needs and terrain, with the aim of improving survivability during missile strikes, mortar attacks and aerial assaults.
Tenders for the projects were issued in August, and vendors can submit responses until 7 November. The facilities will be used to store military assets and ammunition and to meet training-related requirements.
Speaking at the SIDM Annual Session on 9 October, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Northern Command, said procurement would follow a transparent process with a level playing field. He also encouraged eligible firms, including MSMEs, to participate.
Lessons from Operation Sindoor and West Asia
Military planners have drawn on lessons from Operation Sindoor and recent conflicts in West Asia. Iran’s extensive tunnel networks, often called “missile cities,” showed how deeply protected assets can preserve military capability through prolonged air campaigns. India’s planned network is meant to keep forces operationally ready even under sustained attack.
Siliguri Corridor and Forward Areas
Similar work is under way in the eastern sector, where the Army is strengthening the Siliguri Corridor, also known as the Chicken’s Neck. Underground facilities planned there could house command, control and logistics functions alongside protected storage.
The Army’s engineering concepts include prefabricated structures, subterranean facilities and ultra-deep caverns built to withstand heavy aerial bombardment, artillery fire and bunker-busting weapons.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is also constructing underground bunkers at select forward locations to shelter combat drones and other high-value assets. However, details remain restricted for security reasons.
Why Does It Matters for Defence Aspirants?
The move reflects a wider shift in modern warfare towards survivability, protection and operational continuity. For NDA, CDS and AFCAT aspirants, topics such as Operation Sindoor, the Siliguri Corridor, the role of the BRO and India’s border infrastructure are relevant for the current affairs section and for SSB group discussions and lecturettes.
At Major Kalshi Classes (MKC), our faculty helps aspirants turn defence news like this into exam-ready knowledge for both the written exam and the SSB interview. Explore MKC’s NDA, CDS and AFCAT courses to stay ahead.
