Gangtok, Oct 12: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated 75 infrastructure projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) valued at Rs 2,236 crore through a virtual event today. The projects, which include 22 roads, 51 bridges, and two additional infrastructures, are distributed across 11 States and Union Territories, reinforcing India’s border infrastructure and enhancing defence preparedness.
The projects are concentrated in critical regions: 19 in Jammu & Kashmir, 18 in Arunachal Pradesh, 11 in Ladakh, nine in Uttarakhand, six in Sikkim, five in Himachal Pradesh, two each in West Bengal and Rajasthan, and one each in Nagaland, Mizoram, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Notably, the Kupup-Sherathang Road in Sikkim was inaugurated, serving as an essential connection between Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg and the Zuluk axis.
In his address from the Headquarters of Trishakti Corps in Sukna, West Bengal, Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted that these projects reflect the government’s unwavering dedication to enhancing border infrastructure and promoting the socio-economic development of these regions. He stated that these initiatives will significantly bolster India’s defence capabilities and support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a developed India by 2047.
With the completion of these 75 projects, BRO has now completed a total of 111 infrastructure projects in 2024 at an overall cost of Rs 3,751 crore. This figure includes 36 significant projects worth Rs 1,508 crore, such as the Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, which was inaugurated earlier this year by Prime Minister Modi. Additionally, last year saw the dedication of 125 BRO infrastructure projects valued at Rs 3,611 crore.
Shri Rajnath Singh commended the commitment of BRO personnel for completing these projects on time, even in challenging terrains and harsh weather conditions. He pointed to the increased allocation of Rs 6,500 crore for BRO in the Union Budget for 2024-25, which is expected to support strategic infrastructure development and socio-economic progress in border regions, particularly in the North-East.
The Raksha Mantri also emphasized the government’s strategic shift since 2014, prioritizing border infrastructure development, unlike previous administrations that feared it could be misused by adversaries. He assured that further development initiatives for border areas would be undertaken, asserting that India will emerge as one of the safest and strongest nations in the future.
In attendance during the virtual inauguration were Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Defence Secretary-designate Shri RK Singh, and other senior military and government officials. The event was also attended virtually by key dignitaries, including Governors, Lt Governors, and Chief Ministers from various states, with Sikkim Chief Minister Shri Prem Singh Tamang present at the Sherathang site.
