SRINAGAR: In a significant development, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presided over the inauguration of 90 infrastructure projects carried out by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in the Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir. These projects, with a cumulative cost of Rs 2,941 crore, mark a crucial step towards enhancing connectivity and infrastructure in the region.
The Defence Minister, accompanied by Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s office, Jitendra Singh, was received at the Jammu airport by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and distinguished Army and Indian Air Force (IAF) officers.
One of the highlights of the inauguration was the unveiling of the state-of-the-art Devak bridge, spanning 422.9 meters, situated on the Bishnah-Kaulpur-Phulpur Road in the Samba district. Additionally, 89 other projects were inaugurated virtually by Minister Rajnath Singh.
These BRO initiatives encompass a variety of critical developments, including 22 roads, 63 bridges, one tunnel, two airstrips, and two helipads. They span across 10 border states and Union Territories in the northern and northeastern regions, constructed under extremely challenging weather conditions and in some of the most inhospitable terrains.
Of the 89 projects inaugurated virtually, 36 are located in Arunachal Pradesh, 25 in Ladakh, 11 in Jammu and Kashmir, five in Mizoram, three in Himachal Pradesh, and two each in Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal. There is also one project each in Nagaland, Rajasthan, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu was a part of the ceremony through a virtual connection, emphasising the multi-state impact of these infrastructure developments.
In addition to these projects, the Defence Minister laid the e-foundation of the Nyoma airfield in eastern Ladakh. This strategic airfield is set to be developed at a cost of Rs 218 crore, with the aim of facilitating wide-ranging strategic air assets in the region.
In the past two years alone, the BRO has dedicated 205 infrastructure projects to India, amounting to a total cost of Rs 5,100 crore. Last year saw the completion of 103 BRO infrastructure projects at a cost of Rs 2,897 crore, while in 2021, 102 projects were successfully dedicated to the nation at a cost of Rs 2,229 crore.
The Defence Minister’s engagement also extends to the ongoing North Tech Symposium at IIT Jammu’s Jagti campus, inaugurated by Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen M V Suchindra Kumar on Monday.
