Antony asks BRO to pace up roads along border areas

31 May 2013 Editorial Team

The Defence Minister AK Antony has asked the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to look at other public sector companies and even private companies to expedite road construction along the frontier with China. Roads needed by security forces along border with China have been delayed by five to seven years. The BRO, a body under the Ministry of Defence, is tasked with laying down roads in the Himalayas, especially those needed for strategic purposes.

Antony, at a review meeting of the BRO on May 20, not only asked the BRO to augment its own capacity, he specifically told officials to ‘harness the potential’ of other public sector organisations and private companies, sources said. The National Highways Authority of India is one such body in the government domain. Antony was said to be ‘angry’ at the long delays and asked how deadlines were being missed. Across the border, China continues to build roads rapidly.

Till March 31, 2013, only 16 of the 73 roads along the Chinese frontier have been completed, show the data of the BRO. The remaining have been delayed with deadlines getting extended. The problems include slow-pace of work, pending clearances from the environment ministry, adverse working conditions like snow-bound areas, non-availability of labour and lastly, in some areas dropping of material is possible only through helicopters.

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