Indian Army Launches 19 Underground Protection Projects Along China and Pakistan Borders

New Delhi, October 13, 2026 — The Indian Army has begun a major force-preservation drive centred on underground protective infrastructure for personnel, ammunition and critical assets along the borders with China and Pakistan, in a clear response to the growing threat posed by precision-guided weapons, missiles and mortar fire.

The initiative is being shaped by lessons drawn from recent conflicts in West Asia as well as Operation Sindoor. Army planners are now looking at hardened underground facilities as a way to reduce the vulnerability of surface installations and preserve combat capability in high-risk border areas.

In the Northern Command alone, which covers the northern theatre facing both adversaries, 19 separate projects have been launched to create underground assets across the frontage of the operational area. These are not being treated as one-size-fits-all constructions. Instead, the Army is developing customised solutions based on local terrain, geology and operational requirements. The facilities are intended to support ammunition storage, asset protection, and training and practice needs, while also creating a hardened underground network that can keep forces operational even if enemy attacks continue over time.

The Northern Command floated tenders for these 19 projects in August 2026, and vendors have been asked to submit their bids by November 7. Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Northern Command, referred to the planned infrastructure in his address at the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) Annual Session on October 9.

Lt Gen Sharma said the procurement process would be handled with transparency and would ensure a level playing field for all eligible participants, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). According to reports, ₹1,080 crore has been allocated for force-preservation measures on the western front to cover these 19 projects, which include protected underground facilities and modular structures developed in consultation with industry. Lt Gen Sharma has indicated that supply orders are likely to be placed by December 2026.

The engineering concepts under consideration include prefabricated structures, subterranean facilities and ultra-deep cavern designs. These are intended to withstand heavy aerial bombardment, artillery fire and deep-penetration or bunker-buster munitions. Planners are also studying the resilience shown by Iran’s extensive underground military infrastructure — often described as “missile cities” and tunnel networks — during prolonged air campaigns.

Similar work is also under way in the eastern sector, where the Army is looking to strengthen the strategically sensitive Siliguri Corridor, widely known as the “Chicken’s Neck.” Underground infrastructure is being planned there to house command, control and logistics centres, thereby improving the corridor’s ability to withstand disruption.

In a related development, the Border Roads Organisation is already building underground bunkers at selected forward locations to protect combat drones and other high-value assets. Operational details of these sites have not been made public for security reasons.

Together, these measures point to a broader shift in how the Army is preparing for future conflict. By moving critical assets and support systems below ground, the force is seeking to improve survivability and maintain operational continuity in the high-altitude and contested environments along the Line of Actual Control and the western borders.