Leh, Oct 12, 2024: Hon’ble Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated and dedicated 75 infrastructure projects to the nation at Sikkim, out of which 11 infrastructure projects are in Ladakh. During the occasion at Skyurbuchan bridge, Hon’ble Councillor Skurbuchan Lhundup Dorjai, OC Shive Kumar, AEE Jha virtually attended the event along with other officers & officials of Vijayak Border Road Organization and many prominent citizen of the area.

Last year, 125 BRO infrastructure projects were dedicated to the Nation at a cost of Rs 3611 Cr. This year, 36 Infrastructure Projects of the BRO costing Rs 1508 Cr have already been dedicated to the Nation which also include state of the art Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh which was inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 09 Mar 2024 making a total of 111 infrastructure projects at a total cost of Rs 3751 Cr.

In a ceremony organized by Border Roads Organisation in Sikkim, the Hon’ble Defence Minister inaugurated 22 Roads, 51 Bridges and 02 other miscellaneous projects. These Infrastructure Projects have been constructed under challenging weather conditions at places with most inhospitable terrain.

Notably, BRO completed the construction of these critical strategic projects in record time frame and many of these Projects have been constructed in a single working season using state-of-the-art technology.

Out of these Projects, 19 have been constructed in UT of J&K, 11 in UT of Ladakh, 18 in Arunachal Pradesh, 09 in Uttrakhand, 06 in Sikkim, 05 in Himachal Pradesh, 02 each in West Bengal and Rajasthan and 01 each in Nagaland, Mizoram and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Speaking on the occasion, Hon’ble Defence Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh lauded BRO’s commitment towards establishing connectivity in far flung areas by ensuring timely completion of these roads & bridges. He mentioned that in last five years BRO had completed 450 infrastructure projects with a cost of more than Rs. 16000 Cr and this year, in 2024 with these 75 infra projects BRO has dedicated a record 111 infrastructure projects to the Nation. He appreciated the feat of construction of these 75 infrastructure projects at such an expeditious pace during this year. He mentioned that such performance by the BRO is unprecedented and is a reflection of the grit and determination of the entire Border Roads Organisation.

He also lauded BRO’s effort of always being at the forefront in constructing more than 40% of Roads in high altitude area with hostile terrain, harsh weather, low Oxygen levels and extreme cold. Despite these challenges BRO remains committed towards its mission of Connecting Place Connecting People.

He reaffirmed the Government’s resolve to ensure better infrastructure development in border areas keeping in view the Nation’s security needs. He expressed his confidence in BRO’s contribution to Nation building by promoting enhanced defence preparedness & ushering economic development in Border States through improved connectivity despite tremendous challenges of terrain & weather condition.