90 infrastructure projects of BRO worth over Rs 2,900 cr

The minister of defense, Rajnath Singh, t has dedicated to the country 90 Border Roads Organisation (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 claimed that through its infrastructure projects, the BRO is not only securing India’s borders but also playing a significant part in the socio-economic development of the remote areas.

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. He claimed that timely completion of infrastructure projects in remote locations has now evolved into the New India norm.

These include 63 bridges, two helipads, 22 roads, 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, & and 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 at record speed.

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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 progress 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 give the vital Tawang Region all-weather connectivity and the Sela Tunnel currently being built.

Both Tawang’s visitors and the Armed Forces stationed nearby will benefit from it. The tunnel’s foundation stone was set in October 2020 by Rajnath Singh.

Also dedicated to the nation were the renovated Bagdogra and Barrackpore Airfields in West Bengal. These airfields, which were rebuilt at a cost of more than Rs 500 crore, would not only improve the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) readiness but also make commercial flight operations in the area easier.

Rajnath Singh also essentially laid the cornerstone for the Nyoma Airfield in Eastern Ladakh. The construction of this airstrip, which is expected to cost over Rs 200 crore, will improve Ladakh’s air infrastructure and the IAF’s capability along the Northern Border.

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 civilians 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. He asserted that this partnership will pen several illustrious chapters in the area of border infrastructure.