October 12th 2024.
On a pleasant Saturday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh proudly dedicated and inaugurated the Kupup-Sherathang Road in Sikkim, along with 74 other infrastructure projects built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) at a cost of Rs 2,236 crore. The ceremony was held virtually from the headquarters of the Trishakti Corps at Sukna in West Bengal.
In his speech, Singh expressed his appreciation for the government's unwavering determination to strengthen the border infrastructure and promote socioeconomic growth in these regions. He emphasized that these projects would greatly enhance the country's defense preparedness and contribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a 'Viksit Bharat by 2047'. The 75 BRO infrastructure projects, including 22 roads, 51 bridges, and two others, span across 11 states and union territories.
The defense ministry further stated that out of these 75 projects, 19 were in Jammu & Kashmir, 18 in Arunachal Pradesh, 11 in Ladakh, nine in Uttarakhand, six in Sikkim, five in Himachal Pradesh, two each in West Bengal and Rajasthan, and one each in Nagaland, Mizoram, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The highlight of the event was the inauguration of the Kupup-Sherathang Road, which serves as a vital link between Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg and Zuluk axis.
With the completion of these 75 projects, the BRO has accomplished a total of 111 infrastructure projects in 2024, with an overall cost of Rs 3,751 crore. This includes 36 projects worth Rs 1,508 crore, such as the state-of-the-art Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi earlier this year. In the previous year, 125 BRO infrastructure projects were dedicated to the nation at a cost of Rs 3,611 crore.
Singh commended the dedication and perseverance of the BRO personnel for completing these projects within the designated time frame, despite facing challenging terrains and harsh weather conditions. He also mentioned that the government's aim, in its third term, is to further strengthen the border infrastructure with even more promptness. He highlighted the increased budget allocation of Rs 6,500 crore for the BRO in the Union Budget 2024-25 and hoped that it would not only contribute to strategic infrastructure development but also promote socioeconomic progress in the border areas, particularly in the North East region.
Singh also addressed the misconception held by previous governments that the development of border areas could be misused by the country's adversaries, stating that the current government has made border infrastructure development a priority since coming to power. He reiterated that these regions, especially the North East, are crucial from both socioeconomic and strategic perspectives and have witnessed significant progress in the last decade.
In conclusion, Singh assured the people that the government will continue to prioritize the development of border areas, and India will emerge as one of the safest and strongest nations in the years to come. The virtual inauguration was attended by Chief of the Army Staff Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Defence Secretary-designate R K Singh, Eastern Command's General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Lt Gen Ram Chander Tiwari, Border Roads DG Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan, Trishakti Corps General Officer Commanding Lt Gen Zubin A Minwalla. Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang was also present at the main site in Sherathang.
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