SRINAGAR: oday, on Tuesday, September 12, Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is set to inaugurate an impressive array of 90 infrastructure projects crafted by the Border Road Organization (BRO). These projects, totaling a substantial investment of Rs. 2,941 crore, will be unveiled at a special ceremony hosted at Devak Bridge in Jammu.

The scope of these endeavors extends across 10 border states and union territories located in the Northern and North-Eastern regions, as confirmed by an official statement.

The Border Roads Organization is orchestrating the ceremony at Devak Bridge, situated on the Bishnah-Kaulpur-Phulpur Road in the region of Jammu and Kashmir. During this event, Rajnath Singh will officially inaugurate a diverse range of projects, encompassing 22 roads, 63 bridges, the Nechiphu Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, two airfields in West Bengal, and two helipads.

Remarkably, the BRO has achieved the completion of these strategically pivotal projects in a record time frame, with many of them accomplished within a single working season, employing cutting-edge technology.

To break down the geographical distribution, among these projects, 11 are located in Jammu and Kashmir, 26 in Ladakh, 36 in Arunachal Pradesh, 5 in Mizoram, 3 in Himachal Pradesh, 2 each in Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal, with 1 each in Nagaland, Rajasthan, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

It's worth noting that in the year 2021, a total of 102 BRO infrastructure projects were officially dedicated to the nation, involving an expenditure of Rs. 2,229 crore.

In addition to the inauguration of these vital infrastructure projects, the Defense Minister is slated to participate in the North Tech Symposium, a collaborative effort between the Northern Command and IIT Jammu, as reported.

One of the significant infrastructure projects set to be inaugurated is the Nechiphu Tunnel, stretching over 500 meters on the Balipara-Charduar-Tawang Road in Arunachal Pradesh. This tunnel, in conjunction with the ongoing construction of the Sela Tunnel, will establish all-weather connectivity to the strategically crucial Tawang region, serving both the deployed armed forces and the influx of tourists to the pristine Tawang.

Furthermore, the revamped Bagdogra and Barrackpore Airfields in West Bengal will be officially unveiled on Tuesday. The BRO has executed the reconstruction of these airfields successfully, at a total cost of Rs. 529 crore.

These airfields are poised to not only bolster the defensive and offensive capabilities of the Indian Air Force along the Northern Borders but also facilitate the smooth operation of commercial flights in the region.

In a final noteworthy development, the Union Minister will preside over the e-Shilanyash ceremony at Nyoma Airfield in Ladakh. This strategic airfield, located in Eastern Ladakh, is slated for development at an estimated cost of Rs. 218 crore, catering to a wide spectrum of strategic air assets.

"The construction of this airfield will significantly enhance the air infrastructure in Ladakh and bolster the Indian Air Force's capabilities along our Northern Borders," stated an official source.

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