Big Connectivity Push At India's Borders As 125 BRO Projects Worth Rs 5,000 Crore Dedicated To Nation

A total of 125 strategic infrastructure projects built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) were dedicated to the nation by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday (7 December), marking the largest single-day inauguration in the organisation’s history.

The projects include 28 roads, 93 bridges and four miscellaneous works, constructed at a combined cost of approximately Rs 5,000 crore across two Union Territories—Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir—and seven States—Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Mizoram.

These projects are aimed at significantly improving last-mile connectivity to remote villages and forward military locations, reducing travel time, and ensuring smoother movement of troops, equipment and essential supplies.

The enhanced road and bridge network is also expected to support tourism, local employment and faster disaster response in border regions.

Among the most critical projects inaugurated is the Shyok Tunnel on the Darbuk–Shyok–Daulat Beg Oldie (DS-DBO) Road in Ladakh.

The 920-metre Cut-and-Cover tunnel, constructed in extremely challenging high-altitude terrain, will provide reliable all-weather connectivity to one of India’s most sensitive strategic corridors.

The region remains vulnerable to heavy snowfall, avalanches and extreme temperatures, making the tunnel vital for maintaining mobility and operational readiness throughout the year.

In addition to transport infrastructure, the Galwan War Memorial in Arunachal Pradesh was also inaugurated virtually, commemorating the bravery and sacrifice of Indian soldiers and strengthening the symbolic and strategic presence in the eastern sector.

Technological innovation has been a key feature of recent BRO projects.

The organisation has begun deploying indigenously developed Class-70 modular bridges, designed and manufactured in India in partnership with Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE).

These heavy-load bridges are being installed at forward locations and are designed to support rapid military movement, representing a significant step in self-reliant border infrastructure development.

The scale of infrastructure expansion is reflected in BRO’s financial outlay.

In FY 2024–25, the organisation recorded its highest-ever expenditure of Rs 16,690 crore, while a target of Rs 18,700 crore has been set for FY 2025–26.

Over the last two years alone, 356 BRO projects have been dedicated nationwide, underlining the accelerated pace of construction in high-altitude, snowbound, desert, flood-prone and forested terrains.

The Union Budget for 2025–26 has further increased BRO’s allocation from Rs 6,500 crore to Rs 7,146 crore.

Beyond construction, BRO’s role has expanded into humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

During 2025, the organisation carried out major rescue operations during the Mana avalanche in Uttarakhand, large-scale tourist evacuations in North Sikkim, and the cloudburst rescue operations in Jammu & Kashmir, highlighting its dual role in national security and civilian safety.

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