Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled 75 new projects including bridges, roads and helipads in border areas.

The projects costing Rs 2,180 crore are spread across six states and two Union Territories.

The 75 projects implemented by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) included 45 bridges, 27 roads, two helipads and one ‘Carbon Neutral Habitat’.

Key projects:

• As many as 20 of the projects are in Jammu & Kashmir, 18 each in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, five in Uttarakhand and 14 in other border states of Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan.

• The highlight of the event was the onsite unveiling of 120-metre-long ‘Class-70 Shyok Setu’ on the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldi (DS-DBO) road at an altitude of 14,000 feet. DS-DBO road provides connectivity to  India’s northernmost outpost of Daulat Beg Oldi. The bridge will be of strategic importance as it will facilitate logistics movement of the Armed Forces. 

• Other projects inaugurated virtually include two helipads, one each in Hanle and Thakung, in eastern Ladakh. These helipads will enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Air Force in the region. 

• The BRO’s first Carbon Neutral Habitat at a height of 19,000 feet for its personnel was also inaugurated at Hanle. It is BRO’s effort towards contributing to Ladakh’s resolve of becoming the country’s first Carbon Neutral Union Territory. The key features of this complex include accommodation of 57 personnel and thermal comfort during extreme weather. It is expected to enable BRO to operate efficiently during large parts of winters. 

• The defence minister also laid the foundation stone of Himank Air Despatch Complex being constructed in Chandigarh and a BRO Museum at Leh.

• The museum building will be constructed using 3D printing technology and, on completion, will become the world's highest 3D printed building. 

Border Roads Organisation

• The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was conceptualised 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. 

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

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