Context:
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated its 65th Raising Day in New Delhi on May 07, 2024.
About Border Roads Organisation (BRO)
- Established in 1960 with just two projects – Project Tusker (now Vartak) in the east and Project Beacon in the north.
- It has grown into a vibrant organization with 18 projects across 11 states and 3 union territories, firmly establishing itself as the premier infrastructure construction agency in India’s high-altitude and challenging snow-bound regions.
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- The BRO comprises the Border Roads Wing under the Ministry of Defense and the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF).
- Union Cabinet constitutes the Border Roads Development Board (BRDB), under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister. The defense minister was nominated as Deputy Chairman. The BRDB was constituted to coordinate and implement road projects for development and meet Defence needs.
- BRO develops and maintains road networks in India’s border areas and friendly neighboring countries like Bhutan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan.
- Constructs and maintains roads at high altitudes (9,000 ft to 19,000 ft) along northern and western frontiers.
- The BRO has been promoting gender equality by offering key roles and opportunities to women personnel.
- BRO will play an important role in the Vibrant Villages Programme.
Recent Achievements of BRO
Notable projects include:
- Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh.
- To commence construction on the Shinkun La Tunnel, the world’s highest tunnel once completed.
- Completion of two significant airfield projects (Bagdogra & Barrackpore)
- Infrastructure projects in the Himalayas (e.g., Char Dham road).
- Recently, laying the foundation stone for the Mudh Airfield Project.