JAMMU, Jan 19:Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday inaugurated and dedicated 35 infrastructure Projects constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) at a cost of Rs 670 Crore from Dhak Bridge site in Uttarakhand.
Out of these projects, eleven are located in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu & Kashmir and nine in the UT of Ladakh.
The Defence Minister also carried out the e-inauguration of 34 other infrastructure projects. Critical infrastructure projects which are inaugurated today include Ragini-Ustad-Pharkian Gali Road in the Union Territory of J&K.
Singh highlighted the government’s distinctive approach to border area development, stating that the policy prioritises providing last-mile. One of the key projects, the Ragini-Ustad-Pharkian Gali Road in J&K, is a 38.25-km long CL-9 road, ensuring all-weather connectivity between Tangdhar and Keran sector, thereby enhancing military operational readiness.
Among the inaugurated roads and bridges in J&K, notable ones include the Jotha Bridge (50 m span) on Basholi-Bani-Bhaderwah road, Kannha Bridge (240 m span) on Kappagala-Battal Road, Balini Bridge (130 m span) on Jammu-Srinagar Highway, and Sharthi Bridge (40 m span) on Basholi-Bani-Bhaderwah Road.
During the dedication ceremony held at Joshimath-Malari Road in Uttarakhand, Singh lauded the BRO for fortifying the country’s border infrastructure. He emphasised that these projects, constructed under challenging weather conditions in inhospitable terrains, connect remote areas with the rest of the nation, both geographically and socially.
Singh emphasised that the government considers border areas as the face of India, diverging from the approach of previous administrations that treated these zones as the last areas of the country. He underscored the importance of providing world-class infrastructure in these regions and reiterated that the connectivity projects are not just strategically vital but also pivotal for the welfare of the residents in these border areas.
“People living near the borders are no less than soldiers,” Singh remarked, emphasising the dual role they play in serving the motherland. He highlighted the deployment of troops on hill borders and the development of infrastructure on mountains as measures ensuring the safety of the people and aiding the military in effectively dealing with adversaries.
