Defense Minister Rajnath Singh today inaugurated 90 infrastructure projects carried out by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in the Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir.
These projects, which cost a total of ₹2,941 crore, were welcomed by Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha and senior Army and Indian Air Force (IAF) officials upon Singh’s arrival at Jammu airport.
Accompanied by Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Jitendra Singh, Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Devak Bridge, measuring 422.9 meters, on the Bishnah-Kaulpur-Phulpur Road in Samba district. Additionally, he virtually inaugurated 89 other projects.
The Devak Bridge holds significant strategic importance for the defense forces, as it will expedite the deployment of troops, heavy equipment, and mechanized vehicles to forward areas. Furthermore, it is expected to enhance the socio-economic development of the region, according to a BRO spokesperson.
The BRO’s portfolio of projects comprises 22 roads, 63 bridges, one tunnel, two airstrips, and two helipads, spread across 10 border states and union territories in the northern and northeastern regions. These projects were executed under extreme weather conditions and in some of the most inhospitable terrains, often completed within a single working season.
Among the 89 projects inaugurated virtually, 36 are in Arunachal Pradesh, 25 in Ladakh, 11 in Jammu and Kashmir, five in Mizoram, three in Himachal Pradesh, and two each in Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal, with one each in Nagaland, Rajasthan, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The spokesperson also highlighted the significance of projects such as the 500-meter Nechiphu Tunnel on the Balipara-Charduar-Tawang Road in Arunachal Pradesh, which, along with the under-construction Sela Tunnel, will provide all-weather connectivity to the strategic Tawang region.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu participated virtually in the ceremony. The reconstruction and revamping of Bagdogra and Barrackpore Airfields in West Bengal are expected to enhance the Indian Air Force’s capabilities along the borders and facilitate commercial flight operations in the region.
The Defense Minister also initiated the e-foundation of Nyoma airfield in eastern Ladakh, which is set to be developed at a cost of ₹218 crore. This airfield will significantly bolster the air infrastructure in Ladakh and augment the Indian Air Force’s capabilities along the northern borders.
The spokesperson emphasized that the Border Roads Organisation has played a crucial role in strengthening India’s defense preparedness, completing numerous critical and strategic projects in the past three years. Additionally, the BRO has connected some of the remotest villages in the country, such as Huri in Arunachal Pradesh, to the mainland, sparking reverse migration to these border villages.
Over the last two years, the BRO has dedicated a remarkable 205 infrastructure projects to the nation, amounting to ₹5,100 crore in cost. In the previous year, 103 infrastructure projects were completed at a cost of ₹2,897 crore, and in 2021, 102 projects were dedicated to the nation at a cost of ₹2,229 crore.
In addition to these activities, the Defense Minister also attended the ongoing North Tech Symposium at IIT Jammu’s Jagti campus, which had been inaugurated by Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen M V Suchindra Kumar on Monday.
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(Inputs by Hindustan Samachar)