Bridge at 14,000 ft among 75 BRO projects dedicated by Rajnath

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh last week dedicated to the nation 75 infrastructure projects constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) at a total cost of Rs 21.80 billion in several states, including Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim in the northeast. The dedication of the 75 projects to the nation was held at a function organised at D-S-DBO Road in Ladakh. According to the Union Defence Ministry, 45 bridges, 27 roads, two helipads and one carbon neutral habitat are spread across six states and two union territories. Twenty of these projects are in Jammu and Kashmir; 18 each in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh; five in Uttarakhand; and 14 in other border states of Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan, it stated in a release. Appreciating the grit and determination of BRO in completing projects in record time despite challenging weather conditions, Singh said the projects would bolster the country’s defence preparedness and ensure economic development of border areas. The highlight of the event was the onsite inauguration of 120-metre-long Class 70 Shyok Setu bridge on D-S-DBO Road at an altitude 14,000 feet. The bridge will be of strategic importance to the Armed Forces. The BRO’s first carbon neutral habitat at an altitude of 19,000 feet was also inaugurated at Hanle. Its key features include accommodation of 57 personnel and thermal comfort during extreme weather. It will enable BRO to operate efficiently during a large part of winters. See also: PM Modi to launch multiple infra projects in Vizag soonPM Modi to launch projects worth 156.70 bn on Gujarat visit