New Delhi: Tractors are usually used to plough fields but soon troops of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) will ride these machines to help them patrol the Indian frontiers along China.
The border guarding force has ordered almost 60 new tractors which will be used to transport troops from one border post to another in areas where there are no motorable roads or regular vehicles cannot ply due to high-altitude.
"The tractors will be equipped with mowers and other accessories which will also help the personnel to cut snow and remove boulders and silt on their route," a senior ITBP officer said.
The Border Out Posts (BOPs) of the force along the Sino-Indian border are located at inhospitable terrain and regular vehicles are of no use even if a small landslide occurs. These tractors, to be painted in the traditional light green colour of the force, will be customised for use by the force's personnel.
According to the officer, the tractors will also be used for transportation of rations, medicines and other material.
"The force usually faces heavy to moderate snowfall at its various posts. The tractors will be stationed at such posts and they will work as snow-cutters," the officer said.
The ITBP guards the 3,488-kilometre-long border of the country with China and its posts are located at heights ranging from 9,000 to 18,500 feet.
While 60 per cent of them have no road connectivity, almost 30 per cent are maintained by helicopters. Communication between patrol parties and the base locations and posts is often disrupted by bad weather.
The ITBP has almost 50 battalions (50,000 personnel) and has also deployed its personnel for anti-Naxal operations in states like Chhattisgarh.
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