In a significant move to bolster India's border infrastructure, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday inaugurated a total of 125 strategic projects executed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The highlight was the inauguration of the Shyok Tunnel in eastern Ladakh, a crucial asset for all-weather connectivity near the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Strategic Significance of the Shyok Tunnel
The newly opened Shyok Tunnel is a 920-metre cut-and-cover structure located on the strategically vital Durbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DS-DBO) road. This engineering feat, built in one of the world's most challenging terrains, is designed to provide reliable, all-weather access to forward areas. The region is notorious for heavy snowfall, avalanches, and extreme temperatures, which often sever connectivity for months.
Defence Minister Singh hailed the tunnel as an engineering marvel that will ensure security, enhance troop mobility, and enable rapid deployment capabilities. Official sources indicated that this infrastructure will likely reduce the Indian Army's dependence on air maintenance for logistics in these difficult terrains, resolving a key logistical challenge.
In a solemn parallel event, Singh also virtually inaugurated the Galwan War Memorial in Ladakh, paying tribute to the Army personnel who made the supreme sacrifice during the clash with Chinese soldiers in 2020.
A Massive Infrastructure Push Across Borders
The inauguration ceremony was not limited to a single project. The Defence Minister unveiled a total of 125 infrastructure initiatives with a combined construction value of Rs 5,000 crore. According to a Defence Ministry statement, this portfolio includes 28 roads, 93 bridges, and 4 other miscellaneous projects.
These projects are geographically spread across two Union Territories—Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir—and seven states: Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Mizoram. The ministry emphasized that these upgrades will dramatically improve last-mile connectivity to remote villages and military locations along the borders.
Connectivity as the Backbone of Security
Addressing the gathering, Rajnath Singh underscored the critical link between robust infrastructure and national security. He stated that the speed at which India is strengthening its borders with roads, tunnels, smart fencing, and surveillance systems proves that connectivity is the backbone of security.
Invoking Operation Sindoor, the minister highlighted how strong border connectivity enabled the historic success of the military operation. "Our connectivity with the border areas was maintained, making the operation a historic success," he said, adding that such large-scale actions are possible due to the timely delivery of logistics to the Armed Forces.
He elaborated on the multifaceted benefits of border infrastructure: "It ensures military mobility, smooth transportation of logistics, increase in tourism and employment opportunities and, most importantly, stronger faith in development, democracy and the government."
Singh also praised the unprecedented coordination between the Armed Forces, civil administration, and border residents during Operation Sindoor, calling it the nation's unique identity.
Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan, Director General of Border Roads (DGBR), noted that the BRO has become the preferred agency for key central ministries, including Home Affairs, External Affairs, and Road Transport & Highways, for executing critical infrastructure projects.
In a testament to the accelerated pace of work, Singh revealed that the BRO incurred a record expenditure of Rs 16,690 crore in the 2024-25 financial year, the highest ever. An even more ambitious target of Rs 18,700 crore has been set for the fiscal year 2025-26. He commended the BRO for embracing technological innovation and advanced engineering methods to speed up project completion.
The Defence Minister concluded by stressing the need to continually strengthen the bond between border regions and the national mainstream to ensure the relationship remains impervious to external influences.
