Defense Minister Rajnath Singh presented 125 recently finished Border Roads Organization projects to the country from Leh on Sunday, describing them as a “vivid proof” of the government’s dedication to strengthening India’s border infrastructure.
These strategically important projects, which cost Rs 5,000 crore and were located in seven states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Mizoram, as well as the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, included 28 roads, 93 bridges, and four other projects.
In the Border Roads Organization’s (BRO) history, the event was the biggest single-day inauguration with the highest value.
When the defense minister arrived in Leh, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta welcomed him and attended the inauguration ceremony.
“Our warriors’ courage and bravery serve as an inspiration to us. The defense minister declared, “These infrastructure projects are the nation’s homage to those heroes who gave their lives in the service of the nation.”
The “lifelines of national security” are border highways, he claimed, and their connection directly affects operational preparedness.
“Satellite-based surveillance, real-time communication technologies, and improved road networks are now enabling Indian soldiers to operate with greater speed and accuracy in forward regions,” he stated.
Singh commended the BRO for continuously completing projects ahead of time and using new technology in line with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) goal.
He emphasized that improved border connection not only increases security but also stabilizes local economies, improves disaster response (as seen during rescue operations during a cloudburst in Chasoň, Jammu and Kashmir), and boosts people’s trust in governance in isolated areas.
“Our armed forces, BRO troops, and inhabitants of border areas together create a collective shield of national security,” Singh stated, stressing the need for their relationship to keep strengthening.
The 920-meter Shyok Tunnel, built along the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldi Road in Ladakh, is an engineering wonder that will enable all-weather communication to one of the world’s most challenging military terrains, the defense minister said.
According to him, the tunnel will significantly improve mobility, logistics delivery, and the capacity for quick deployment, especially during severe winters with a lot of snow and avalanches.
“Every BRO employee and our courageous military personnel are always serving the nation. Our nation is always reaching new heights because of the passion you possess to work in whatever weather or circumstance,” he stated.
According to Singh, the government’s persistent commitment to fortifying border infrastructure is demonstrated by the completion of 125 projects in record time, which is evidence of its drive for a developed India.
According to the defense minister, the recently launched projects will improve military mobility, guarantee efficient logistical delivery, stimulate tourism, create jobs, and boost economic activity.
Above all, he said, these initiatives increase people’s trust in democracy, governance, progress, and the system.
