In a significant step towards enhancing India’s border connectivity, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh recently dedicated 125 infrastructure projects spearheaded by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) from the challenging terrains of Ladakh. This event marks the highest number of simultaneous infrastructure inaugurations in the country’s history.
The visionary projects, valued at ₹5,000 crore, span across two Union Territories—Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir—as well as seven states: Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Mizoram. They encompass 28 roads, 93 bridges, and four miscellaneous works, underscoring a comprehensive approach to bolstering India’s connectivity in border regions.
One of the key projects unveiled during this ceremony is the 920-metre Shyok Tunnel along the strategically vital Darbuk–Shyok–Daulat Beg Oldie (DS-DBO) Road. Constructed under extremely challenging conditions, this tunnel will facilitate all-weather access and enable secure troop movement to critical forward locations, especially during periods of heavy snowfall and adverse winter conditions. Singh asserted that this project is expected to significantly strengthen security and operational capabilities along India’s northern frontier.
Additionally, the Raksha Mantri virtually inaugurated the Galwan War Memorial, which pays tribute to the courage and sacrifice of Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley during intense confrontations.
During his address, Rajnath Singh remarked on the importance of robust border connectivity, citing its crucial role in the success of Operation Sindoor, which was launched after the Pahalgam terror attack. He emphasized the collaborative efforts of the Armed Forces, civil administration, and local communities as integral to India’s identity and resilience.
The minister also highlighted the broader implications of enhanced border infrastructure, stating that it fosters military mobility, logistics reliability, tourism opportunities, disaster response capabilities, and public confidence in national progress. He reiterated that the rapid development of roads, tunnels, surveillance systems, and other strategic works reflects India’s commitment to a security philosophy in which connectivity serves as the backbone of national defense.
Expressing gratitude for the efforts of the BRO, Singh commended its exceptional performance, notably during the financial year 2024–25, with a record expenditure of ₹16,690 crore and a targeted ₹18,700 crore for the upcoming fiscal year. He acknowledged BRO’s contributions to critical rescue operations and advancements in indigenous bridge technology, showcasing the nation’s growing engineering self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Rajnath Singh further cited a transformative surge in defense production in India, increasing from ₹46,000 crore in 2014 to an expected ₹1.51 lakh crore in 2025, alongside a dramatic rise in defense exports from less than ₹1,000 crore to around ₹24,000 crore over the past decade.
With appreciation, BRO Director General Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan noted that increased government support has positioned the BRO as the preferred agency for various ministries, reinforcing its effectiveness in navigating and executing projects in challenging terrains.
In just the last two years, the BRO has successfully dedicated 356 projects to the nation. With a significant budget increase slated for the upcoming financial year, the organization continues to play a central role in fortifying India’s border security, connectivity, and strategic readiness.
