The Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, is set to officially inaugurate 74 projects undertaken by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), encompassing airstrips, tunnels, and bridges along the northern and western borders. The announcement was made by the Director General of BRO, Rajeev Chaudhry.Lieutenant General Chaudhry made this announcement following an inspection of the newly constructed bridge spanning the River Devak, measuring nearly half a kilometre in length. This bridge links regions along the International Border (IB) with the mainland.The inauguration date for the Devak Bridge will be confirmed shortly. This bridge will be dedicated to the nation, and the Defence Minister's visit to the Jammu region will include inaugurating 74 additional projects, comprising two airstrips, tunnels, bridges, and roads, declared the Director General to the press.He highlighted the swift completion of the Devak Bridge in the Samba district within a span of two years under Project Sampark. The bridge, strategically positioned on the Devika River, bears significance from both military and socio-economic standpoints.This bridge facilitates rapid movement of forces along the border, greatly benefiting the villages of Folpur and Gulpur located along the IB, he noted. In the past, villagers encountered difficulties crossing the river, particularly during times of high water levels. Spanning 422 meters and situated approximately 3.5 km from the International Border, the bridge has resolved this challenge, he added.The Director General emphasised the on-going construction of a key border road, the Akhnoor-Poonch road. We have significantly broadened this road, incorporating four tunnels - Kandi, Sungal, Nowshera, and Bhimbergali. This project is making remarkable progress and is expected to conclude within the next two years, he affirmed.Furthermore, he provided insights into the strategic hinterland road of Bani-Basholi-Baderwah. Of the total 165 km stretch, 125 km of the road has been surfaced. Work continues on the remaining 40 km, with an estimated completion date of March 2025. Notably, 89 km of road between Basholi and Bani, along with the 35 km segment from Baderwah to Chatergalla, has already been fully completed, he elaborated.In response to a query about infrastructure advancements along the Sino-Indian border, he cited the successful establishment of substantial bridges, incorporating modular designs, along the China frontier over the past three years.