BRO worked despite COVID: Dr Jitendra
Bridges crucial for development, defence: LG
Excelsior Correspondent/PTI
NEW DELHI, Oct 12: After Pakistan, China is also creating a dispute at the border with India as if it was part of a “mission”, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said today, as Indian and Chinese troops remain locked in a standoff in Eastern Ladakh for over five months.
The Defence Minister, speaking at an online event after inaugurating 44 bridges, said India is not only facing the situations along the frontiers resolutely, but it is also bringing in major development including in border areas.
“You are well aware of the conditions created along our Northern and Eastern borders. First it was Pakistan, and now also by China, as if a border dispute is being created under a mission. We have a border of about 7,000 km with these countries where the tension continues,” Singh said.
The Defence Minister was speaking after inaugurating the bridges built in strategically key areas of Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
A majority of these bridges are expected to significantly improve movement of troops in areas along the border with China in Ladakh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh sectors, officials said.
Singh said in the challenging times of COVID-19 and despite the border tensions and disputes caused by Pakistan and China, the country was not only resolutely facing them but also bringing about historical changes in all sectors of development.
The Defence Minister also laid the foundation stone for Nechiphu Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh. This 450 metre-long tunnel would ensure all-weather connectivity across Nechiphu pass.
The bridges inaugurated by Singh included 10 in Jammu and Kashmir, eight in Ladakh, two in Himachal Pradesh, four each in Punjab and Sikkim and eight each in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh.
In his address, Singh complimented the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for their achievements in improving infrastructure in border areas and said that dedication of 44 bridges in one go in itself was a record.
He said the annual budget of BRO that varied from Rs 3,300 crore to Rs 4,600 crore in years between 2008 and 2016, saw a substantial rise and is pegged at over Rs 11,000 crore in 2020-21.
“There was no reduction of this budget despite COVID-19,” he said
Singh said construction of the bridges will benefit both the civilian population as well as the military in the areas.
“Our armed forces personnel are deployed in large numbers in areas where transport is not available throughout the year,” he said, noting improvement in border infrastructure will significantly help armed forces.
“These roads are not only for strategic needs, but they also reflect equal participation of all stakeholders in the development of the nation,” Singh said.
The Defence Minister praised the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for working tirelessly even during the coronavirus-triggered lockdown period.
The Defence Ministry said despite unprecedented snowfall breaking a 60-year record, all strategic passes and roads were cleared for traffic about one month before their average yearly opening dates.
“I am happy to know that over 2,200 kilometers of roads have been cut by the BRO during the last two years, using the latest technologies, and state-of-the-art equipment. Also, surfacing was carried out on about 4200 kms of roads,” he added.
Amid the border standoff with China, India is expediting work on several key projects including on a strategic road linking Darcha in Himachal Pradesh with Ladakh that will criss-cross a number of high-altitude snow-bound passes.
The nearly 290-km-long road will be crucial for the movement of troops and heavy weaponry into the frontier bases of the Ladakh region and will provide a crucial link to the Kargil region.
The Defence Minister was accompanied on the occasion by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh. The Chief Ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim as well as Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir joined the ceremony online. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Naravane and Director General Border Roads Organization (BRO) Harpal Singh physically accompanied Rajnath Singh and Dr Jitendra Singh.
Dr Jitendra Singh lauded the Border Road Organization (BRO) for their professional commitment and noted that the BRO had continued its work despite COVID pandemic. He said, he was particularly delighted that 10 out of 44 newly constructed bridges were located in Jammu & Kashmir and out of these, two bridges happened to be in Kathua, in his Parliamentary Constituency.
Dr Jitendra Singh, while further substantiating his observations, said that on June 24th, in the midst of the COVID-crisis, the BRO had thrown open two important newly constructed bridges in his constituency, namely the Devika Bridge in Udhampur and the Puneja Bridge in Bhaderwah. In this way, he said, in the last few years, BRO had constructed nearly 200 bridges in the region including the state-of-the-art Atal Setu Bridge in Basohli.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dr Jitendra Singh said, not only Jammu & Kashmir received high priority and Central funding for various projects, but also all the projects including those of roads and bridges have moved on despite the constraints of COVID.
Dr Jitendra Singh recalled that on July 31st this year, he had launched 28 Central PMGSY Phase-II road projects in far-flung areas of Udhampur-Kathua-Doda, while on September 30th he had dedicated to the people of his constituency, 23 completed Central PMGSY road projects worth Rs. 73 cr. The work on Katra-Delhi Expressway Corridor has also begun and is likely to be completed in time, he added.
The 10 bridges of J&K inaugurated today were- Isham Bridge, Dahi Bridge, Dandi Bridge, Saniyal Bridge, Baniyari Bridge, AIK Bridge, Kallah Bridge, Madhun Bridge, Babban Bridge and Batha Bridge.
Meanwhile, the Lt Governor, J&K, Manoj Sinha expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, Border Roads Organization and every individual associated with the construction of these vital bridges in the Union Territory of J&K.
The day is special for J&K as 10, out of the 44 bridges being inaugurated today are for the UT, said Sinha.
He observed that the newly inaugurated bridges would play a crucial role in strengthening the connectivity to the far flung areas of J&K and enhancing the operational efficiency of our defence forces.
The bridges are crucial for the region for rapid development and defence purposes. Not only will connect people from remote parts of J&K to the rest of the nation but will also serve the Defence Forces serving in here.
“I strongly believe that bridges are not only critical component of a country’s infrastructure but they connect people and have power to change the destiny of a society and economy of the region”, he added.
The Prime Minister also believes that no nation can progress without giving special attention to infrastructure building. Jammu and Kashmir is treading fast on the road to development, peace and prosperity. Development has reached to remote villages of the UT and these bridges will further help connect many villages, Sinha maintained.
Underlining the significance of newly inaugurated bridges, the Lt Governor observed that the bridge on Bandipora-Gurez road over Dahi Nallah would connect villages which used to remain cut off from even district headquarters for about half an year; the Madhun Bridge in Rajpura would facilitate the villagers as well as defence forces; the Dandi Bridge in Bhaderwah would help encourage more tourist inflow and the bridge over Babban Nallah in Samba would facilitate the locals as well as defence forces during peak monsoons. Similarly, the Batha Bridge over Batha Nallah in Samba would also provide much relief to the villagers as well as the forces during monsoons, he added.
“Just as one Oresund Bridge helped boost the economy of Denmark, I firmly believe that these 10 bridges will also prove to be a boon for the UT. I am certain that these bridges will further facilitate journey embarked upon by J&K since August last year”, said the Lt Governor.
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