Rajnath Singh, the minister of defense, has committed to the country 90 Border Roads Organization (BRO) infrastructure projects totaling more than Rs 2,900 crore that are distributed across 11 States and Union Territories.
The projects were officially launched on Tuesday in Jammu by the defense minister.
Rajnath Singh referred to the BRO as the ‘bro (brother)’ of the Armed Forces in his speech and said that via its infrastructure projects, the BRO is not only guarding India’s borders but also playing a significant part in the socio-economic development of the remote regions.
Rajnath Singh attributed the prompt completion of these projects to the effort and devotion of the organization’s staff as well as the dedication of the government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Together with BRO, we are safeguarding the security of the country and the development of border regions. The timely completion of infrastructure projects in remote locations has now evolved into the New India standard, he said.
These include 63 bridges, two helipads, 22 highways, the Nechiphu Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, two airfields in West Bengal, and two airfields. Out of the 90 projects, 36 are in Arunachal Pradesh, 26 in Ladakh, 11 in Jammu & Kashmir, 11 in Jammu & Kashmir, 5 in Mizoram, 3 in Himachal Pradesh, 2 in Sikkim, Uttarakhand, & West Bengal, and 1 in each of Nagaland, Rajasthan, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Utilizing cutting-edge technology, the BRO built the majority of these strategically significant projects in a single working season, finishing them in record speed.
The Raksha Mantri officially opened the event at Devak Bridge on the Bishnah-Kaulpur-Phulpur Road.
The cutting-edge 422.9-meter-long Class 70 RCC Devak bridge is crucial from a strategic perspective since it will improve the Armed Forces’ operational readiness and advance the socioeconomic development of the area.
Rajnath Singh officially opened the 500-meter Nechiphu Tunnel on the Balipara-Charduar-Tawang Road in Arunachal Pradesh, which is a significant infrastructural project. This tunnel will provide the vital Tawang Region all-weather connection, together with the Sela Tunnel that is currently being built.
Both the tourists visiting Tawang and the Armed Forces stationed in the area would benefit from it. In October 2020, Rajnath Singh laid the tunnel’s cornerstone.
West Bengal’s renovated Bagdogra and Barrackpore Airfields were also dedicated to the country. These airfields, which were rebuilt at a cost of more than Rs 500 crore, would help the Indian Air Force (IAF) be more prepared while also facilitating commercial aviation operations in the area.
Rajnath Singh also essentially set the cornerstone for Eastern Ladakh’s Nyoma Airfield. This airstrip, which will be built for around Rs 200 crore, would improve Ladakh’s aviation infrastructure and increase the IAF’s capacity along the Northern Border.
The Defence Minister radiated assurance that this airfield, which would be among the tallest in the world, will transform the Armed Forces.
He also expressed the expectation that the BRO will soon establish another exceptional record with the building of the Shinkun La Tunnel, the tallest tunnel in the world at a height of 15,855 feet.
He said the tunnel will give all-weather communication between Lahaul-Spiti in Himachal and the Zaskar Valley in Ladakh and praised the BRO for building infrastructure in border regions and significantly enhancing the country’s security.
Rajnath Singh emphasized that building infrastructure near borders not only enhances national security but also fosters communication with a neighboring nation that cooperates with India.
He emphasized how the BRO has built infrastructure projects and promoted peace and collaboration with several nations, including Bhutan and Myanmar.
The working methods and initiatives of the BRO were praised by the defense minister as shining examples of civil-military cooperation.
“Civil-military fusion is essential at this time since citizens as well as troops are responsible for the country’s security. By collaborating with the civic and military sectors, the BRO is building infrastructure for the nation’s security. This partnership will write many illustrious chapters in the area of border infrastructure, he said.
While highlighting the need of working together to secure India’s borders, Rajnath Singh praised state governments for their collaboration in advancing national objectives despite ideological differences.
Additionally, he urged the BRO to include local organizations and the populace by learning about their needs and soliciting advice for initiatives in border regions.
“Connecting two locations is just part of your task. It also aims to link your activities with people’s emotions. For the people, of the people, and by the people should be reflected in the structures, he stated.
The BRO was praised by the defense minister for adopting cutting-edge methods and technology to build infrastructure and for being aware of its obligations to the environment. He exhorted them to continue placing equal priority on environmental conservation and growth efforts.
“Up to this point, we have operated on the maxim,’minimum investment, maximum value. The phrase of “minimum environment degradation, maximum national security, and maximum welfare” must now guide our actions, he added.
Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Jugal Kishore Sharma, the Member of Parliament for Jammu, Lt. Gen. Rajeev Chaudhry, the Director General of Border Roads, and Air Marshal Pankaj Mohan Sinha, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Air Command, were all in attendance. Pema Khandu, the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, took part in the event remotely.
With the dedication of 90 projects today totaling Rs 2,900 crore, the BRO has now dedicated 295 infrastructure projects totaling around Rs 8,000 crore to the country since 2021, setting a record. 103 projects totaling over Rs 2,900 crore were officially opened in 2022, whereas 102 projects totaling more than Rs 2,200 crore were committed to the country in 2021.