Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that India had exercised its “right to respond” through Operation Sindoor, following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.
Speaking at the 66th Raising Day celebrations of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) at the Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantonment, Singh lauded the armed forces for their swift and precise strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
“Through Operation Sindoor, India has responded decisively to the attack on its soil. Our Armed Forces acted with precision, precaution, and compassion to destroy terror camps used to train militants in Pakistan and PoK,” the defence minister said. He emphasized that the operation was carried out with a well-thought-out strategy, targeting only terrorist infrastructure while avoiding civilian casualties.
“The whole world has seen what our Armed Forces have done. The operation aimed to break the morale of those supporting terrorism. I congratulate the Armed Forces and commend Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for his unwavering support,” he added.
50 BRO Projects Dedicated to the Nation
During the event, the Singh virtually inaugurated 50 strategically significant infrastructure projects constructed by the BRO. These include 30 bridges, 17 roads, and three other development works, built at a total cost of ₹1,879 crore.
Spread across six border states and two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram, West Bengal, and Rajasthan—these projects aim to reinforce India’s border security, enhance connectivity, and promote regional development.
“These are not just roads and bridges; they are the lifelines of our Armed Forces and the foundation for a brighter future in remote and border areas,” Singh said. He underscored that modern military capability is not defined by weapons alone but also by the infrastructure that enables rapid deployment and logistics.
In the past two years alone, BRO has completed 161 infrastructure projects worth ₹5,600 crore, including a record 111 projects last year. Over the last four years, the organisation has completed 456 projects with a total expenditure of ₹13,743 crore.
Singh also highlighted the Sela Tunnel as a symbol of India’s resolve to enhance connectivity in high-altitude, strategically vital regions. He reiterated the government’s focus on revitalizing border villages through the Vibrant Villages Programme, under which approximately 35 km of roads are being constructed every day.
The defence minister urged BRO to continue building next-generation infrastructure to match current geopolitical needs, saying, “BRO must ensure that preparations are at a war-level. Infrastructure is the backbone of our defence strategy.”
Director General Border Roads (DGBR) Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan, in his address, affirmed the growing role of BRO as the agency of choice for executing critical infrastructure projects in difficult terrain. He also reaffirmed BRO’s commitment to the welfare and dignity of its personnel, including GREF workers and Casual Paid Labourers.
The event was attended by key dignitaries, including Minister of Parliamentary Affairs SKiran Rijiju, Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh, Chief of the Army Staff Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, and other senior officials.