India - China: 90 Infrastructure Projects Inaugurated
STORIES, ANALYSES, EXPERT VIEWS
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Tuesday virtually inaugurated 90 infrastructure projects of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) worth over Rs 2,900 crore spread across 11 States/Union Territories.
Rajnath Singh described the BRO as the ‘bro (brother)’ of the Armed Forces, asserting that, through its infrastructure projects, BRO is not only securing India’s borders but also playing a key role in the socio-economic development of the far-flung areas. “Together with BRO, we are ensuring that the nation is secure and border areas are developed. Timely completion of infrastructure projects in far-flung areas has now become the new normal of New India,” he said.
Spread of 90 projects: These include the Nechiphu Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, two airfields in West Bengal, two helipads, 22 roads and 63 bridges. Of these 90 projects, 36 are in Arunachal Pradesh, 26 in Ladakh, 11 in Jammu & Kashmir five in Mizoram, three in Himachal Pradesh and two each in Sikkim, Uttarakhand & West Bengal and one each in Nagaland, Rajasthan and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The BRO has completed the construction of these strategically important projects in record time, most of them in a single working season using state-of-the-art technology.
Devak Bridge: The event was organised at Devak Bridge on Bishnah-Kaulpur-Phulpur Road, which was inaugurated by the Raksha Mantri.
The state-of-the-art 422.9 meter-long Class 70 RCC Devak bridge is of strategic importance as it will enhance the operational preparedness of the Armed Forces and boost the socio-economic development of the region.
Nechiphu Tunnel: An important infrastructure project inaugurated by Rajnath Singh was the 500-metre-long Nechiphu Tunnel on Balipara-Charduar-Tawang Road in Arunachal Pradesh. This tunnel, along with the under-construction Sela Tunnel, will provide all-weather connectivity to the strategic Tawang Region.
It will be beneficial to the Armed Forces deployed in the region and the tourists visiting Tawang. Minister Rajnath Singh had laid the foundation stone of the tunnel in October 2020.
Shinkun La Tunnel: The defence Minister expressed hope the BRO will soon set another unique record with the construction of the Shinkun La Tunnel, the world’s highest tunnel at an altitude of 15,855 feet.
The tunnel will connect Lahaul-Spiti in Himachal to the Zaskar Valley in Ladakh and provide all-weather connectivity, he said, commending the BRO for developing infrastructure in border areas and making an invaluable contribution to border security.
