Connectivity as a Pillar of Security and Development
Shri Rajnath Singh described the projects as foundational to the Government’s Viksit Bharat vision, stressing that robust border infrastructure is both a security multiplier and an enabler of economic growth. He noted that better roads and bridges translate into faster troop movement, smoother logistics, disaster response and growth in tourism and employment in border districts.
The Raksha Mantri underlined that connectivity is not separate from security but its backbone. He commended the BRO for accelerating project delivery using indigenous engineering solutions and for their role in enabling swift operations such as Operation Sindoor, where logistics and timely support were decisive factors.
Engineering Feats and Indigenous Technology
Officials pointed to significant technological advances by BRO, including adoption of indigenously developed Class-70 modular bridges produced in collaboration with Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers. These modular spans have been deployed at forward locations to speed up connectivity while reducing dependency on imports.
The Shyok Tunnel itself was described as a complex engineering achievement in one of the world’s most challenging terrains. Built to withstand avalanches and heavy snowfall, the tunnel will allow reliable year-round road movement on the strategically vital Darbuk–Shyok–Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) axis.
Operational and Humanitarian Contributions
The Raksha Mantri lauded BRO’s recent humanitarian efforts, recalling rescues during the Mana avalanche in Uttarakhand and evacuations in North Sikkim and J&K following extreme weather events. BRO’s work in such crises illustrates its dual role in strategic preparedness and civil assistance.
Director General Border Roads Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan thanked the Raksha Mantri and the Government for enhanced budgetary support and policy backing, which he said have expanded BRO’s operational reach across high-altitude, desert and forested terrains.
Scale, Funding and Future Targets
Broader figures underlined the scale of recent work: BRO completed 356 infrastructure projects in the past two years, and recorded a record expenditure of ₹16,690 crore in FY 2024–25. The organisation’s target for FY 2025–26 stands at ₹18,700 crore, reflecting sustained investment in strategic infrastructure.
Shri Rajnath Singh also highlighted defence production progress as part of a wider security-industrial strategy: defence output and exports have climbed significantly in the last decade, underscoring India’s push for Aatmanirbhar defence manufacturing.
Local Support and Strategic Mutualism
The Raksha Mantri praised the co-operation between armed forces, civil administration and border populations, calling it an expression of India’s unique mutualism. He said local support was pivotal to successful operations and timely logistics, reinforcing national cohesion in frontier regions.
Senior dignitaries at the event included governors, lieutenant governors, state chief ministers, service chiefs and union ministers, reflecting wide political and institutional backing for BRO’s mission.
