By Ajai Shukla
Business Standard, 4th Jan 23
In a significant step towards strengthening border infrastructure, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday dedicated 28 infrastructure projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), worth Rs 724 crore, to the nation.
The dedication function on the Along-Yinkiong road in Arunachal Pradesh included the physical inauguration of the strategically-important Siyom Bridge. This a state-of-the-art, 100-meter long, Class 70 steel architecture superstructure bridge over the Siyom River.
The other 27 projects were dedicated to the nation virtually.
The defence ministry said that these projects comprise 22 bridges, including the Siyom bridge; three roads and three other projects in seven border states/Union Territories.
Eight of these projects are in Ladakh; five in Arunachal Pradesh; four in Jammu and Kashmir; three each in Sikkim, Punjab and Uttarakhand and two in Rajasthan.
In addition, Rajnath Singh inaugurated three telemedicine nodes - two in Ladakh and one in Mizoram.
With the inauguration of these 28 projects, which were completed in 2022, the BRO has dedicated 103 infrastructure projects to the nation last year at a total cost of Rs 2,897 crore, said the defence ministry.
Last October, the defence minister inaugurated 75 projects, worth Rs 2,173 crore, 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.
Addressing the inauguration function, Rajnath said it was the top priority of the government to connect the border areas and ensure the development of its residents.
“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,” he said.
Praising the BRO’s role in confronting the Chinese in Ladakh, Rajnath underlined its crucial role 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.
Rajnath lauded the BRO for ensuring socio-economic development in even the most remote border regions, with special attention to the development of the north-eastern region. Coining a new phrase, he said: “BRO is the nation’s bro (brother)”.
The three tele-medicine nodes inaugurated online by Rajnath will be connected with services hospitals through Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) satellite communications systems. These will permit prompt medical intervention through specialists in services hospitals.
Rajnath also released a Compendium on New Technologies, which cites the latest technologies the BRO is adopting to negate the effects of remote and hostile terrain with adverse weather conditions. These are expected to affect engineering quality and help meet completion timelines.
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Infra push on China border
· Rajnath Singh inaugurates 28 BRO road projects, worth Rs 724 crore, in seven border States/UTs.
· Three VSAT-based telemedicine nodes in Ladakh and Mizoram also inaugurated.
· “These projects are testament to government’s resolve towards border area development for enhanced defence preparedness and socio-economic progress,” says Rajnath.
· “India does not believe in war, but if forced we’re ready to fight”, he says.
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