LEH, December 7: Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh on Sunday dedicated 125 strategically significant infrastructure projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to the nation, marking the largest number of BRO projects ever inaugurated simultaneously. The inauguration took place in Ladakh, highlighting the region’s growing strategic importance.
The projects—spread across the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir, and seven states including Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Mizoram—comprise 28 roads, 93 bridges and four other works. Completed at an estimated cost of about Rs 5,000 crore, this marks the highest-value collective inauguration in the BRO’s history. Officials said the new infrastructure will enhance last-mile connectivity to remote villages and forward military locations, further integrating them with the national mainstream.
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta hailed the nationwide rollout of the 125 projects, including 41 completed in Ladakh, calling it a historic milestone for the region. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for prioritising Ladakh’s accelerated and balanced development.
The LG highlighted the Defence Minister’s role in strengthening border infrastructure, improving troop welfare and boosting morale within India’s security forces. He said the new projects will significantly enhance connectivity, spur economic activity and ensure reliable access to remote border areas that traditionally remained cut off for long periods.
He also commended the BRO’s work in some of the country’s toughest terrains, noting key achievements such as the Cut-and-Cover Tunnel on the DS–DBO Road, enabling all-weather access; the world’s highest multi-span Sosar Brangsa Bridge; the Nimo–Padam–Darcha Road, which offers Ladakh its third and shortest all-weather link; and the operationalisation of the high-altitude Mudh–Nyoma Airfield, a critical strategic asset.
The LG said BRO’s expanding road network has also boosted tourism, with routes like Mahe–Chushul and Mahe–Debring improving access to Pangong, Chushul and Tso Moriri, thereby supporting adventure and eco-tourism. Calling Ladakh a symbol of India’s spirit and beauty, he urged people across the country to visit the region to experience its natural landscape, cultural heritage and strengthened border connectivity.
Referring to Operation Sindoor, the LG said the operation demonstrated India’s unwavering commitment to its sovereignty and national interests. He expressed appreciation for DGBR Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan and BRO personnel for their dedication and “nation-first” approach.
Speaking at the event, DGBR Lt Gen Srinivasan thanked the Defence Minister for his leadership and acknowledged the central government’s continued policy support, which he said has enabled BRO to significantly expand its operational capabilities.
