NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, DEC 28
As the military standoff with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh is nowhere close to its end, India has strengthened the border infrastructure for faster movement of its troops to meet any untoward situation.
On Tuesday, three roads and 24 bridges built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), many of them close to the China border, were inaugurated.
Speaking at the event, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, keeping in view the security needs of the country, the government has given top priority to infrastructure development in border areas, just as the focus has been on strengthening the interior parts.
Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh virtually dedicating 27 infra projects constructed by @BROindia to the nation, today. @rajnathsingh @adgpi @PIB_India @indiannavy @IAF_MCC @drajaykumar_ias @AjaybhattBJP4UK @DRDO_India @DefProdnIndia @BROindia https://t.co/Fv3f5VaGTW
— A. Bharat Bhushan Babu (@SpokespersonMoD) December 28, 2021
“My sincere gratitude to the Hon'ble Raksha Mantri and the Border Roads Organisation for achieving this admirable feat.” Lt. Governor @R_K_Mathur@DefenceMinIndia @BROindia @rajnathsingh pic.twitter.com/215JxFOFvk
— Office of the Lt. Governor, Ladakh (@lg_ladakh) December 28, 2021
“Recently in the northern sector, we were able to face the adversary with determination. It could not have been possible without proper infrastructural development,” Singh said. Strong infrastructure in border areas is essential in today’s “uncertain times” as it strengthens strategic capabilities.
- BRO achieves feat of completing record 102 infrastructure projects in a single working season
- Rajnath Singh says, the projects will bolster security; ensure socio-economic development of far-flung areas & contribute in developing a New India
- ‘BRO Cafes’ to be set up at 75 places in border areas, as part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations
“As we move forward in the direction of strengthening our border infrastructure, we have to bolster our surveillance systems as well,” the defence minister said.
The new projects were completed at a cost of Rs 2,245 crore. Of the 24 bridges, nine are in Jammu and Kashmir, five each in Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, three in Uttarakhand and one each in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Of the three roads, two are in Ladakh and one is in West Bengal.
The main highlight was the inauguration of India’s first indigenous Class 70 140-feet Double-Lane Modular Bridge, built at a height of 11,000 feet at Flag Hill Dokala, Sikkim and Chisumle-Demchok road at Umling La Pass at over 19,000 feet in Ladakh which also holds the Guinness World Record of world’s highest motorable road.
“They will play an important role in strengthening the country,” said Singh. He stated that the new projects will add “many new links” to BRO’s “chain of records”. The problems of infiltration, skirmishes, illegal trade and smuggling, etc persist in border areas. In view of this, the government had started a Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System sometime back, he said.
One of the most important roads dedicated to the nation today is the Chisumle-Demchok Road in eastern Ladakh. India and China have not been able to resolve friction points in Demchok, despite multiple rounds of military and diplomatic negotiations since May 2020.
“This road, built at an altitude of more than 19,000 feet, on the Umling La pass in southern Ladakh, has now become the world’s highest motorable road,” Singh said. “It will not only enable faster movement of armed forces to the region but will also boost tourism and improve the socio-economic condition of the local people in the region.”
The Union government has taken a number of steps in the last six-seven years to strengthen the BRO, including increasing their budget by three to four times.
Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh; Chief of the Army Staff General M M Naravane; Director General Border Roads Lieutenant General Rajeev Chaudhry and senior officials of Ministry of Defence were present on the occasion. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Minister of State, Ministry of Minority Affairs John Barla, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh R K Mathur, Minister of Roads and Bridges, Government of Sikkim Samdup Lepcha, Member of Parliament Tirath Singh Rawat, General-Officer-Commanding, Chinar Corps Lieutenant General D P Pandey and BRO personnel attended the event virtually.
