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RAKSHA MANTRI SHRI RAJNATH SINGH INAUGURATES & DEDICATES 90 INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS OF BRO TO THE NATION
Two Bridges located on the Lachen axis at Munsithang and Chopta in North Sikkim were also inaugurated
By PIB Gangtok
Raksha Mantri, and Shri Rajnath Singh today inaugurated and dedicated 90 infrastructure Projects to the Nation at a cost of Rs 2941 Crores. Last year, 103 BRO infrastructure projects were dedicated to the Nation at a cost of Rs 2897 Cr. In 2021, 102 BRO infrastructure projects were dedicated to the Nation at a cost of Rs 2229 Cr. In a ceremony organised by the Border Roads Organisation at Devak Bridge in Jammu & Kashmir, Raksha Mantri inaugurated 24 Roads, 61 Bridges, Nechiphu Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, two airfields in West Bengal, and two helipads. These Infrastructure Projects have been constructed under challenging weather conditions, at most inhospitable terrain locations.
Project Swastik, located at Gangtok, responsible for infrastructure development in the state of Sikkim and parts of West Bengal, also figured in this mega event. Two bridges in North Sikkim, One road in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Two Airfields in West Bengal constructed by the Project formed part of the projects dedicated to the Nation by the Hon’ble Defence Minister today in the presence of Lt Gen Rajeev Chaudhry, VSM, DGBR, and senior officials.
Two Bridges inaugurated during the event are located on the Lachen axis at Munsithang and Chopta. These bridges would provide all-year connectivity to the picturesque plateau of North Sikkim and, in addition, will boost the local economy and tourism in the region. These Bridges are also vital from a strategic point of view as they will facilitate the induction of heavy military equipment towards border areas.
Reconstructed and revamped Bagdogra and Barrackpore Airfields in West Bengal are also being inaugurated today. These airfields have been successfully reconstructed by BRO at a cost of Rs 529 Cr. These airfields will not only improve the defensive and offensive posture of the Indian Air Force along Northern Borders but will also facilitate commercial flight operations in the region.
The reach of Project Swastik extends to Andaman & Nicobar Islands, where the southernmost tip of India lies. The road inaugurated today is located in Campbell Bay, one of the islands in the Nicobar Islands, and connects to the southernmost tip of India, i.e. Indira Point. The construction of this road has opened an all the year round connectivity to Indira Point.
The e-inauguration of the bridges in North Sikkim was attended by Shri Samdup Lepcha, Minister for Roads & Bridges, Government of Sikkim, and Shri Karma Loday Bhutia, Minister for Forest, Government of Sikkim at HQ Project Swastik office. Besides the two ministers, other dignitaries attended the ceremony including the District Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, Mangan, and Pipons of Lachen Zumsa. During the ceremony, the Raksha Mantri released a Coffee Table Book on Sikkim, which beautifully brings out the rich cultural heritage of the State as well as the work done by Project Swastik in the past 60 years.
At the inauguration site in Jammu & Kashmir, the event was graced by Lt Gen Rajeev Choudhry, VSM, Director General Border Roads besides other dignitaries from the Army and the State Government. The DGBR exhorted all BRO Karamyogis to continue to strive for excellence to enhance the security of the nation along with infrastructure development of far-flung areas of the country. (Source- PRO Defence)
