Border Roads Organisation (BRO)

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Context:

• The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is celebrating its 65th Raising Day on May 07, 2024.

Event details:

• To mark the day, an event was organized in New Delhi, which was presided over by the Defence Secretary.
• The event also witnessed the unveiling of a compendium on Sela Tunnel as well as some books including ‘Oonchin Sadaken’, ‘Path Pradarshak’ and ‘Path Vikas’ by the Defence Secretary.
• Defence secretary gave away Excellence Awards to the BRO personnel for the year 2023-24 and felicitated the women achievers of the Organisation.
• The Casual Paid Labourers who worked on various projects such as Sela Tunnel, as well as during the Sikkim floods were also felicitated.

Recent Contributions of BRO

• BRO has made valuable contribution in the relief and rescue efforts during the Silkyara Tunnel Collapse and the Sikkim Floods.
• Organisation will play an important role in the Vibrant Villages Programme which envisages comprehensive development of select border villages.
• Project Tusker (now Vartak) in the East and Project Beacon in the North of the BRO has today become a vibrant organization with 18 projects operating in 11 States and three Union Territories.
• It has now established its credentials as the leading infra-construction agency in high-altitude and difficult snow-bound areas.
• The BRO executes road construction and maintenance works at altitudes ranging from 9,000 ft up to 19,000 ft along the Northern and Western frontiers, primarily to meet the strategic requirements of the Armed Forces.
• In over six decades, it has constructed over 62,214 km of roads, 1,005 bridges, seven tunnels, and 21 airfields in adverse climatic and geographical conditions along India's borders as well as in friendly countries, including Bhutan, Myanmar, Afghanistan & Tajikistan, thus contributing towards the nation’s strategic objectives.
• In 2023-24, the BRO completed a total of 125 infrastructure projects worth Rs 3,611 crore. This includes the construction of Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh on Balipara-Chardwar-Tawang Road.
• The BRO will soon commence the construction on the 10-km-long Shinkun La Tunnel. Once completed, this tunnel will become the world’s highest tunnel at 15,800 ft bypassing Mila Tunnel in China at 15,590 ft.
• The BRO accomplished the completion of two significant airfield projects namely Bagdogra and Barrackpore.
• The foundation stone for the Mudh Airfield Project was laid recently and the BRO aims to complete the project within just two working seasons.

Conclusion:

• The pan-India presence of the BRO reflects its commitment to national security, connectivity, and development. Over the past few years, the BRO has witnessed an exponential surge in budget expenditure, marking a remarkable leap forward in capabilities and impact. This increased budgetary support has empowered the organization to undertake crucial projects, accelerate critical infrastructure development, and enhance its operational readiness.

Read in detail about BRO here:

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/border-road-organisation#:~:text=Border%20Roads%20Organisation%20(BRO)%20was,of%20the%20Government%20of%20India.

Source:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2019815

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. "Discuss the contributions and significance of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in enhancing India's infrastructure development, particularly in remote and border areas."( 250 words)