Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday inaugurated 75 infrastructure projects built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to ramp up the road infrastructure near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh. The `2,180-crore projects include the 120-metre long Class 70 Shyok Setu along the all-weather Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (D-S-DBO) Road at an altitude of 14,000 feet.
In all, the 45 bridges, 27 roads, two helipads and one Carbon Neutral Habitat are spread across six States and two Union Territories (UTs). While 20 of these projects are in Jammu & Kashmir, 18 each are in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh; five in Uttarakhand and 14 in other border States of Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan.
Lack of infrastructure development in Jammu & Kashmir for decades post Independence was one of the reasons behind the rise of terrorism in the UT, Rajnath said.
Appreciating the grit and determination of BRO for achieving the feat despite challenging weather conditions, the Defence Minister pointed out that the projects will bolster the country’s defence preparedness and ensure economic development of border areas.
Rajnath said the bridge will be of strategic importance as it will facilitate logistics movement of the armed forces. On the occasion, the Defence Minister virtually inaugurated two helipads, one each in Hanle and Thakung in Eastern Ladakh in order to enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Air Force amid prolonged standoff with China.
The BRO’s first Carbon Neutral Habitat at a height of 19,000 feet for its personnel was also inaugurated at Hanle. It is BRO’s effort towards contributing to Ladakh’s resolve of becoming the country’s first Carbon Neutral UT.
The key features of this complex include accommodation of 57 personnel and thermal comfort during extreme weather. It will enable BRO to operate efficiently during large parts of winters.
These strategically important projects have been constructed at a total cost of `2,180 crore by the BRO in record time, many of which have been completed in a single working season using state-of-the-art technology.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajnath reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensure the progress of far-flung areas to fulfil the security needs of the country, stressing that infrastructure development, along with the valour of the armed forces, was the main reason that helped India to effectively deal with the recent situation in the northern sector. He termed the new 75 projects as a testament to that resolve and said that these bridges, roads & helipads will facilitate military and civil transport in far-flung areas of the western, northern and north-eastern parts of the country, forming a part of the development chain.
He described connectivity with border areas as one of the focus areas of the Government for the holistic development of the nation. “BRO has a crucial role in achieving this objective,” Singh said.
Singh also laid the foundation stones of Himank Air Despatch Complex being constructed in Chandigarh and a BRO Museum at Leh. With the onset of winter, once the passes close due to heavy snowfall, BRO extensively utilises air effort for movement of men, machinery and material to far-flung areas. The existing Air Despatch sub unit located at Chandigarh is being upgraded for providing comfort to transiting troops and to ensure efficient and uninterrupted delivery of essential stores and equipment for execution of works on ground. The BRO will be undertaking the construction of the new Complex at Chandigarh by incorporating the latest 3D printing technology and once completed, the building will boast of being the world’s largest 3D Printed Complex.
To honour the sacrifices of its personnel and institutionalise and put on record the achievements of BRO, a Museum at Leh is being set up, which will be a source of information and inspiration. This museum building will also be constructed using 3D Printing Technology and on completion, will become the world’s highest 3D Printed Building.
