NEW DELHI: With China systematically building roads, bridges and military positions along the entire 3,488-km Line of Actual Control during the continuing troop confrontation in eastern Ladakh, defence minister Rajnath on Saturday asked the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to further enhance its capability through latest technology for faster development of infrastructure in border areas.
“The Chinese presence has increased in the northern sector in the recent past. Due to their proficiency in construction in mountainous areas, they manage to reach different places very quickly. BRO must continue to work in parallel and focus on increasing its capability with full use of technology,” Singh said, addressing BRO personnel on their 63rd raising day.
The BRO’s capital budget has been increased by 40% to Rs 3,500 crore in 2022-23, reflecting the government’s commitment to the country’s security and development of border areas, he said.
There are still no signs of any de-escalation in the two-year-old military confrontation with China, with the two sides continuing to forward deploy over 50,000 soldiers each along with heavy weapons along the frontier in eastern Ladakh.
The People’s Liberation Army has used the last 24 months to further consolidate its military positions and border infrastructure all along the LAC as well as upgrade all its air bases facing India. The latest example is China’s construction of a bridge across the Pangong Tso in the Khurnak Fort area, illegally occupied by China since 1958, for better connectivity of its troops between the north and south banks of the brackish lake, as reported by TOI earlier.
The BRO, too, has stepped up its drive. In 2021-22, a total of 102 infrastructure projects, comprising 87 bridges and 15 roads, were completed by the BRO, the maximum in a single year.
Underlining the importance of roads, bridges and tunnels in the progress of a nation, Singh said the BRO projects have enhanced the operational preparedness of the armed forces and improved the socio-economic conditions of the people living in far-flung areas.
The development of border areas is a major part of the government’s “comprehensive defence strategy”, Singh said. “The more empowered the people of border areas become, the more aware and concerned they will be about the security of those areas. Citizens are the greatest power of a nation,” he said.
“Therefore, with changing times, we are committed to move forward for the development of our border areas. It is our top priority to provide maximum facilities to those who work round-the-clock for our security,” he added.