BRO Celebrating 66th Raising Day Alongwith Virtual Inauguration of 50 Infrastructure Projects by Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh from Manekshaw Centre
Diplomat Correspondent
Delhi: DD,Raised on 07 May 1960, Border Roads Organisation completes 66 glorious years of raising.
• Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated and dedicated 50 BRO infrastructure projects to the Nation, constructed at a total cost of ₹1,879 crore.
• Projects enhance forward connectivity to remote and strategically vital areas across 8 border States/Union Territories.
• BRO has completed a record of 161 infrastructure projects in the last two years — an unprecedented achievement.
• The event highlighted BRO’s role as a pioneer in nation-building, contributing to both strategic preparedness and socio-economic development.
• The event also underscored welfare measures for BRO personnel and Casual Paid Labourers (CPLs), focusing on improved allowances, healthcare, and service conditions.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) marked its 66th Raising Day on 7 May 2025 with the virtual inauguration and dedication of 50 strategically significant infrastructure projects to the nation by Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh from Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi. These projects, constructed at a total cost of ₹1,879 crore, are spread across six border States and two Union Territories, reinforcing India’s security, connectivity and development in remote regions.
On this momentous occasion, Director General Border Roads (DGBR) Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan, PVSM, VSM, paid homage to all the brave personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty and extended heartfelt greetings to all BRO personnel and their families and prayed for their well-being and continued success.
Reflecting on BRO’s glorious journey, since its inception in 1960 with two initial projects ‘TUSKER’ in the East (now Project Vartak) and ‘BEACON’ in the North, the DGBR highlighted the organisation’s unwavering commitment to constructing roads and strategic infrastructure in the remotest parts of the country. Over the decades, BRO has transformed the impossible into possible with perseverance, dedication and courage.
During the occasion, the Director General Border Roads (DGBR) expressed gratitude to the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri for his visionary leadership, unwavering support, and significant increase in budgetary allocations.
Speaking on the occasion, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh said that the Government is focused towards the development of border areas and commended BRO’s effort of always being at the forefront in constructing Roads in high altitude area with hostile terrain, harsh weather, low Oxygen levels and extreme cold. Despite these challenges BRO remains committed towards its mission of Connecting Place Connecting People.
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh lauded BRO’s “Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam” ethos and mentioned about the welfare measures for personnel and casual paid labourers (CPLs), including enhanced remote area healthcare, parity of risk and hardship allowances with Armed Forces and comprehensive term life insurance.
Out of these 50 Projects constructed by the BRO , 06 infrastructure projects have been completed by Project Sampark in J&K (UT). These include 01 road and 05 bridges which are worth Rs 59.94 crore. The road project in Poonch (J&K) is worth Rs 5.63 crores. In addition, the 05 bridges at Sewal, Pesku, Dersu-VI, Birhon and Babban were constructed at the cost of Rs 54.31 crores at different areas of Jammu & Udhampur.
On the Basohli -Bani-Bhaderwah Road, out of 18 bridges, 16 have already been completed. 130 m steel superstructure Sewal bridge is now being dedicated. The balance 02 bridges are under different stages of construction.
On the Dhar-Udhampur Road, out of 28 bridges, 5 have already been completed. Pesku (40m) and Dersu-VI (24m) bridges are now being dedicated. The remaining 14 bridges on this road are under different stages of construction. The work on balance seven is likely to commence in the coming months.
On the Jammu-Srinagar Road, Birhon Bridge, is a replacement to the old bridge which had been damaged in Jul 2021. Birhon bridge of 130 m span is a PSC box girder construction and has been completed before time.
On the Rajpura-Nidhala Road, 120 m Babban Bridge, joins the missing link between Rajpura to Nidhala and provides much needed connectivity, in the region.
These six projects dedicated to the nation in the UT of J&K will contribute significantly towards enhancing connectivity in the region. The completion of these projects further reinforces the commitment of BRO towards infrastructure development in the border areas.
The Hon’ble RM reaffirmed the Government’s resolve to ensure better infrastructure development in border areas keeping in view the Nation’s security needs. He expressed his confidence in BRO’s contribution to Nation building by promoting enhanced defence preparedness & ushering economic development in Border States through improved connectivity despite tremendous challenges of terrain & weather condition.
As BRO celebrates 66 glorious years, it rededicates itself to the service of the nation, standing firm on its motto: “Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam”
Everything is Achievable Through Hard Work.”.DD
