BRO’s Project Chetak celebrates 47th Raising Day

• Project Chetak of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated its 47th Raising Day at Bikaner, Rajasthan on April 4.

• It marked over four decades of dedicated service in the strategically important regions of the western sector. 

• Raised on April 4, 1980, the project has played a vital role in developing and maintaining infrastructure in Rajasthan, Punjab and northern parts of Gujarat, thereby connecting border areas and contributing to national security as well as regional development.

• With its motto ‘Chetak ka Prayas, Desh ka Vikas’, Project Chetak is one of the largest projects of the BRO in terms of geographical area, covering more than 4,000 kms of road network and 214 kms of Ditch-cum-bund. 

• It supports the defence forces by maintaining key feeder roads towards the International Border with continuous efforts underway to upgrade them to National Highway Double Lane specifications.

Border Roads Organisation (BRO)

• Raised with just two projects in 1960 — Project Tusker (now Vartak) in the east and Project Beacon in the north, the BRO has today become a vibrant organisation with 18 projects operating in 11 states and three Union Territories. 

• BRO is the government of India’s premier border infrastructure agency. 

• It builds and maintains vital connectivity in remote and strategic regions. 

• Since 2015-16, BRO is functioning fully under the Ministry of Defence. Earlier, it was partially under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

• It has a primary role of providing road connectivity to high-altitude and difficult snow-bound areas.

• The BRO executes road construction and maintenance works at altitude ranging from 9,000 ft up to 19,000 ft along the northern and western frontiers, primarily to meet the strategic requirements of the armed forces.

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

• Since its inception in 1960, BRO has built over 64,100 kms of roads, 1,179 bridges, seven tunnels and 22 airfields across India’s border areas and in friendly neighbouring countries, including Bhutan, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

• In the years 2024 and 2025, as many as 356 infrastructures projects executed by the BRO have been dedicated to the nation, setting a significant benchmark in the development of strategic border infrastructure. 

• In recognition of BRO’s vital contribution to national security and regional development, the government has increased its allocation from Rs 6,500 crore in the Union Budget 2024-25 to Rs 7,146 crore in the Union Budget 2025-26. 

• In FY 2024-25, the BRO achieved its highest-ever expenditure of Rs 16,690 crore. 

• Continuing this upward trajectory, an expenditure target of Rs 17,900 crore has been set for FY 2025-26.

Projects of BRO

• BRO now commands 18 dynamic projects each dedicated to engineering and executing strategic infrastructure across 11 states and three UTs. 

• Large-scale roads, bridges, tunnels, and airfields, complemented by tele-medicine nodes, reinforcing both national security and socio-economic development under initiatives like Act East and Vibrant Villages Programme.

• In Arunachal Pradesh, BRO projects such as Vartak, Arunank, Udayak, and Brahmank tackle some of India’s most challenging frontiers, connecting remote villages to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) through critical infrastructure including Sisseri Bridge, Siyom Bridge, Sela Tunnel, and Nechiphu Tunnel.

• In Ladakh, projects like Himank, Beacon, Deepak, Vijayak, and Yojak maintain vital lifelines to Kargil, Leh, and the Karakoram region, covering strategic routes such as the Srinagar-Leh highway, Darbuk-Shyok-DBO (DS‑DBO) Road, Atal Tunnel, and the ongoing Shinku La Tunnel, ensuring all‑weather connectivity.

• The northeast sees projects like Swastik in Sikkim, Pushpak in Mizoram, Setuk in Assam and Meghalaya, and Sewak in Nagaland and Manipur strengthening regional access. 

• On the western borders, Sampark in Jammu and Chetak in Rajasthan enhance strategic mobility.

• Beyond the Himalayas, Shivalik ensures reliable access to the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand, while Hirak extends connectivity into Left-Wing Extremism-affected areas of Chhattisgarh.

• Dantak, BRO’s overseas arm in Bhutan, reinforces bilateral ties through extensive road, bridge, and infrastructure development. 

• Together, these initiatives exemplify BRO’s unwavering commitment to national security, strategic preparedness, and regional development.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)