The defence ministry said key recommendations of committee of experts (CoE) under the chairmanship of Lt Gen D.B. Shekatkar (retd) to speed up creation of key infrastructure along the border areas are being implemented.

The committee had recommended a series of reforms for the three armed forces as well as to boost border infrastructure.

Committee of experts

The committee headed by Lt General (retd) D.B. Shekatkar was appointed in May 2015 to recommend steps for enhancing combat capability and rebalancing defence expenditure and it had submitted its report to the then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in December 2016.

The report was taken up by the ministry to frame key action points and roadmap for implementation.  

Measures recommended by the committee and taken up for implementation include:

* Optimisation of Signals Establishments to include Radio Monitoring Companies, Corps Air Support Signal Regiments, Air Formation Signal Regiments, Composite Signal Regiments and merger of Corps Operating and Engineering Signal Regiments.

* Restructuring of repair echelons in the Army to include base workshops, advance base workshops and static/station workshops in the field Army.

* Redeployment of ordnance echelons to include vehicle depots, ordnance depots and central ordnance depots apart from streamlining inventory control mechanisms.

* Better utilisation of supply and transportation echelons and animal transport units.

* Closure of military farms and army postal establishments in peace locations.

* Enhancement in standards for recruitment of clerical staff and drivers in the Army. 

* Improving the efficiency of the National Cadet Corps (NCC).

In August 2017, the defence ministry approved 65 reform measures for the Indian Army, which included redeployment of nearly 57,000 officers and personnel of other ranks, based on the recommendations of the Shekatkar committee.

Full details of the report and its recommendations were not placed in the public domain as operational aspects of the armed forces have also been covered, disclosure of which is not in the interest of national security.

Speeding up road construction

In the last few years, the government has been focusing on enhancing road networks along the country’s nearly 3,500 km border with China.

“The government has accepted and implemented three important recommendations of committee of experts (CoE) under the chairmanship of Lt Gen D.B. Shekatkar (Retd) relating to border infrastructure. These were related to speeding up road construction,” the ministry said in a statement.

“The government has implemented a recommendation to outsource road construction work beyond optimal capacity of Border Roads Organisation. It has been made mandatory to adopt Engineering Procurement Contract (EPC) mode for execution of all works costing more than Rs 100 crore,” the ministry said.

Under EPC mode, contractors are liable to pay fine for failing to meet deadlines in execution of projects.

“The other recommendation relating to introduction of modern construction plants, equipment and machinery has been implemented by delegating enhanced procurement powers from Rs 7.5 crore to Rs 100 crore to Border Road Organisation,” it said.

The ministry said new technology is also being adopted in laying of roads in border areas as recommended by the CoE. 

BRO has recently inducted machineries for speedier laying of roads, hard rock cutting and speedier snow clearance. Blasting technology for precision blasting, use of geo-textiles for soil stabilisation, cementitious base for pavements, plastic coated aggregates for surfacing are also being used to enhance the pace of construction. 

With the empowerment of field officers through enhanced delegation of financial and administrative powers, there has been significant improvement in faster financial closure of works.

“The land acquisition and all statutory clearances like forest and environmental clearance are also made part of approval of detailed project report (DPR). Further, with the adoption of EPC mode of execution, it is mandatory to award work only when 90 per cent of the statutory clearances have been obtained,” the ministry said. 

Border Roads Organisation

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was conceptualized in March 1960, primarily to meet the defence infrastructure needs of the country especially in the border states. 

It is now a leading road construction agency under the ministry of defence with a primary role of providing road connectivity in border areas.

Over the years, the organisation has diversified into the construction of steel bridges, airfields, townships, tunneling works and hydro-electric projects.

BRO executes road construction and maintenance works along the Northern and Western frontiers primarily to meet the strategic requirements of the Army and is responsible for over 53,000 km roads. 

The BRO has also constructed roads in friendly foreign countries like Bhutan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, etc thus contributing towards our strategic objectives in the region.

In line with the overall thrust of the government to enhance overall strategic connectivity along the borders, the BRO is fully geared up to meet the challenges that lie ahead and has accordingly undertaken an exercise for organisational restructuring and simplification of procedures with adequate delegation of financial powers to executives.

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