Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that Border Road Organsation (BRO) has played a crucial role in the progress of the nation since its inception by building roads, tunnels and other infrastructure in remote areas.
While dedicating two ‘Centres of Excellence’ established by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) the nation at Seema Sadak Bhawan here, Mr Singh lauded the efforts of BRO for working tirelessly in tough weather conditions to increase connectivity in border areas, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Noting that the connectivity as an essential component of a nation’s progress, he further said that BRO has been catering to the needs of the Armed Forces as well as working towards the socio-economic development of the border areas.
He made special mention of the recent achievements of BRO, including state-of-the-art construction of ‘Atal Tunnel, Rohtang’, Kailash Mansarovar Road and Zojila pass. He also appreciated BRO for raising awareness about road safety through innovative slogans and signboards.
The Defence Minister also listed out various measures taken by the Government for the development of BRO which includes increase in the budget of organsation, approval of special high-altitude clothing for the personnel as well as cadre review to boost the morale of the organization and assured them that the Government is committed to the progress of the far-flung areas of the country.
He also remembered the BRO personnel who laid down their lives in the service of the nation.
The Centre of Excellence for Road Safety & Awareness (CoERSA) aims to create awareness about road safety through analysis sharing of road accidents and suggesting methods to save precious lives.
The Centre of Excellence for Roads, Bridges, Air Fields and Tunnels (CoERBAT) focuses on institutionalising the knowledge gained over the years in development of almost 60,000 kilometres of roads, 56,000 metres of bridges, 19 airfields and four tunnels in the eastern and north-western part of the country.
The first ever Solo Woman Motorcycle Expedition by Ms Kanchan Ugursandi to Umling La Pass, Ladakh and back was also flagged off on the occasion. Mr Singh extended his best wishes to Ms Kanchan Ugursandi and expressed confidence that she will come out with flying colours and complete the task by setting new records.
