Giving a major boost to infrastructure projects, including bridges, tunnels and roads along the borders facing China, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday dedicated to the nation 28 projects worth `724 crore undertaken by the Border Roads Organisations (BRO) and said India is capable of meeting any threat to protect the country.
The projects comprise 22 bridges, three roads and three other projects in seven border States and Union Territories of northern and NE regions.
The event at Along-Yinkiong Road witnessed physical inauguration of the strategically-important Siyom Bridge in Arunachal Pradesh. The Defence Minister dedicated the other projects to the nation virtually. The Siyom Bridge is a state-of-the-art 100-metre long, Class 70 Steel Arch Superstructure over Siyom River in the border state.
Incidentally, this was Rajnath’s first visit to Arunachal Pradesh since troops of India and China clashed on December 9 last year.
It was the first major flare up since stand-offs erupted in May 2020 in Eastern Ladakh leading to a bloody brawly in the Galwan valley. Eight of these projects are in Ladakh, five in Arunachal Pradesh, four in Jammu & Kashmir, three each in Sikkim, Punjab and Uttarakhand and two in Rajasthan.
In addition, the Minister inaugurated three telemedicine nodes — two in Ladakh and one in Mizoram.
Rajnath described the projects as a testament to the concerted efforts of the Government and the BRO towards the development of border areas in order to enhance the operational preparedness of the Armed Forces and ensure socio-economic development of the far-flung regions.
Rajnath emphasised that the aim is to build a strong and self-reliant ‘New India’ to effectively deal with future challenges which may arise due to the constantly-evolving global scenario.
“The world is witnessing a number of conflicts today. India has always been against war. It is our policy. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi drew the world’s attention to that resolve when he said this is not the era of war. We do not believe in war, but if it is forced upon us, we will fight. We are ensuring that the nation is protected from all threats. Our Armed Forces are ready and it is heartening to see that the BRO is walking shoulder-to-shoulder with them,” he said.
The Defence Minister highlighted the crucial role played by the BRO in bolstering the country’s security through infrastructure development in border areas.
“Recently, our forces effectively countered the adversary in the Northern sector and dealt with the situation with bravery and promptness. This was made possible due to adequate infrastructural development in the region. This motivates us even more for the progress of far-flung areas,” he said. This was in apparent reference to the Tawang clash. Terming infrastructure development as a game changer for the people residing in border areas, Rajnath lauded the BRO for ensuring socio-economic development in far-flung regions.
The three telemedicine nodes e-inaugurated by the defence minister will be connected with Service hospitals through VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) satellite communications system.
It will provide prompt medical intervention for medical and surgical emergencies through Telemedicine consultation with specialists at Service hospitals using SATCOM VSAT communication.
This is one of the unique achievements for BRO in providing medical services to its personnel in remote border locations through use of space technology.
With the inauguration of these 28 projects, which were completed in 2022, a total of 103 infrastructure projects of the BRO were dedicated to the nation in the year at a total cost of Rs 2,897 crore.
In October last year, 75 projects, worth Rs 2,173 crore, were inaugurated by Rajnath from Shyok village in Ladakh. In 2021, 102 such projects of the BRO were dedicated to the nation at a cost of Rs 2,229 crore.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, MP Arunachal East Tapir Gao and Eastern Command chief Lieutenant General RP Kalita were among those who attended the event.