Shillong, September 10: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to inaugurate 90 infrastructure projects by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on Tuesday. These projects have been executed under extreme weather conditions and in challenging terrains, amounting to an investment of Rs 2,941 crore.
As per IANS, comparatively, last year saw the inauguration of 103 BRO infrastructure projects worth Rs 2,897 crore, while in 2021, there were 102 projects valued at Rs 2,229 crore, according to an official statement from the BRO.
In a ceremony taking place at Devak Bridge on the Bishnah-Kaulpur-Phulpur road in Jammu and Kashmir, the Defence Minister will inaugurate 22 roads, 63 bridges, the Nechiphu tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, two airfields in West Bengal, and two helipads.
It’s worth noting that the BRO has completed these critical strategic projects within record timeframes, with many of them being finished within a single working season, utilizing cutting-edge technology.
Among these projects, 11 are in Jammu and Kashmir, 26 in Ladakh, 36 in Arunachal Pradesh, five in Mizoram, three in Himachal Pradesh, two each in Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal, and one each in Nagaland, Rajasthan, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The centerpiece of the event will be the inauguration of the state-of-the-art 422.9-meter-long Devak Bridge, strategically vital for the defense forces, enabling rapid deployment of troops, heavy equipment, and mechanized vehicles to forward areas, while also stimulating socio-economic development in the region.
Another significant infrastructure project is the 500-meter-long Nechiphu tunnel on the Balipara-Charduar-Tawang road in Arunachal Pradesh. Together with the under-construction Sela Tunnel, it will provide all-weather connectivity to the strategic Tawang region, benefiting both the armed forces and tourists.
Reconstructed and upgraded Bagdogra and Barrackpore airfields in West Bengal, with a combined cost of Rs 529 crore, will also be inaugurated. These airfields will enhance the Indian Air Force’s capabilities along the northern borders and support commercial flight operations in the region.
The inauguration of the Nyoma airfield in Ladakh will further bolster air infrastructure in the area and augment the IAF’s capabilities along the northern borders.
BRO’s remarkable progress in road and bridge construction over the past three years has led to the completion of numerous critical and strategic projects, enhancing India’s defense preparedness compared to its adversaries.
Additionally, the BRO has established crucial connectivity, even reaching the farthest and most remote villages in the country, such as Huri in Arunachal Pradesh, contributing to reverse migration in border areas.