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The Defence Minister recently dedicated 125 infrastructure projects worth about ?5,000 crore built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). This marks the largest single-day inauguration of projects in BRO’s history. The projects include roads, bridges, tunnels, and other strategic works in border areas such as Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, and other frontier states.

What is BRO?

BRO is India’s premier road construction force responsible for developing and maintaining strategic infrastructure in border areas and also in certain friendly foreign countries.

• Established: 7 May 1960
• Administrative Control: Ministry of Defence (fully under MoD since 2015)
• Parent Body: Border Roads Development Board (BRDB)
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Motto:Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam (Everything is achievable through hard work)

Organisational Setup

The organisation is headed by the Director General Border Roads (DGBR), an officer of Lieutenant General rank.

Its workforce includes:

• Personnel from the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF)
• Officers and troops from the Indian Army Corps of Engineers on deputation
• Over 2 lakh local workers, providing employment in remote and border regions

Key Roles of BRO

Peace-Time Role

BRO constructs and maintains:

• Strategic border roads
• Bridges, tunnels, airfields, and other infrastructure

It plays a major role in socio-economic development by improving connectivity in remote and backward regions.

War-Time Role

During hostilities, BRO:

• Maintains and repairs roads used for troop movement
• Clears snow, landslides, and avalanches to keep supply lines open
• Supports operational requirements of the armed forces, including forward airfields

International Projects

BRO undertakes infrastructure projects in friendly countries such as:Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Tajikistan, and Sri Lanka — strengthening India’s regional connectivity and diplomatic outreach.

Engineering Specialisation

BRO is known for working in extreme terrains, including:

• High-altitude Himalayan regions
• Snow-bound and glaciated zones
• Deserts and marshlands
• Seismically active areas

It uses advanced and indigenous technologies such as Class-70 modular bridges, capable of carrying heavy military equipment.

Strategic Importance

BRO is crucial for national security, as border roads enable rapid troop mobilisation along sensitive frontiers, particularly with China and Pakistan.

It also promotes:

• Economic development and tourism in border regions
• Better access to remote villages
• Disaster response during floods, earthquakes, and landslides