Sukna, West Bengal: To boost India’s border infrastructure, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated 75 infrastructure projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), totaling ₹2,236 crore. These projects, which include 22 roads, 51 bridges, and two additional projects, span across 11 States/Union Territories, enhancing connectivity and defense preparedness in strategically important areas.
During the virtual inauguration from the Trishakti Corps Headquarters in Sukna, West Bengal, Raksha Mantri highlighted the Kupup-Sherathang Road in Sikkim, a vital link between Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg and the Zuluk axis, as one of the major projects inaugurated. This road will significantly improve accessibility in the region and reinforce India’s border security.
In his address, Rajnath Singh lauded these projects as a testament to the Government’s commitment to bolstering border infrastructure, which plays a crucial role in the socio-economic development of remote areas. He emphasized that such initiatives are key to realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat by 2047’, strengthening India’s defense capabilities while simultaneously fostering growth in border regions.
With the completion of these 75 projects, BRO has now delivered a total of 111 infrastructure projects in 2024 alone, at an overall cost of ₹3,751 crore. This includes 36 high-impact projects, such as the Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, inaugurated earlier this year by the Prime Minister. Rajnath Singh noted that last year, BRO completed 125 projects at a cost of ₹3,611 crore, reflecting the organization’s impressive pace of development.
The Raksha Mantri commended the BRO personnel’s determination, who worked under extreme weather conditions and challenging terrains to complete these projects on time. He further highlighted the increased budgetary allocation of ₹6,500 crore for BRO in the Union Budget 2024-25, which will not only contribute to the country’s strategic infrastructure but also drive socio-economic progress in border areas, particularly in the Northeast region.
Rajnath Singh also addressed the shift in the Government’s approach to border infrastructure. He recalled that prior to 2014, there was a reluctance to develop border areas due to concerns that they might be exploited by adversaries. However, under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, the development of border regions has become a priority, recognizing their importance for both strategic and socio-economic reasons.
“In the last decade, we have created an expansive network of roads connecting villages and cities, leading to unprecedented progress,” he said. He assured the nation that the development of border areas will continue, adding new dimensions to national security. “India will emerge as one of the safest and strongest nations in the future,” Rajnath Singh declared.
The virtual event was attended by Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Defence Secretary-designate RK Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command Lt Gen Ram Chander Tiwari, and DG Border Roads Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan. At the main site in Sherathang, Sikkim, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang was present, with other dignitaries participating virtually, including Governors and Chief Ministers from several states and Union Territories, reflecting the widespread impact of these projects.