Question

What is the role of the Border Roads Organisation and describe their main achievements?

Answer 1

Hint: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is an Indian road-building executive unit that supports and is affiliated with the Indian Armed Forces. In India's border areas and friendly bordering countries, BRO constructs and maintains road networks.

Complete answer:
The Border Road Organisation (BRO) was established in 1960 with the goal of improving defence preparedness and increasing economic growth along the country's northern and north-eastern borders. At an average altitude of 4,270 metres, this organisation built the world's highest road, which connects Manali (Himachal Pradesh) and Leh (Kashmir).

1) During peacetime, the BRO's responsibilities include
- Developing and maintaining the operational road infrastructure of General Staff (GS) highways in border areas.
- Contribute to the border states' socioeconomic growth.

2) During the Conflict:
- Roads must be built and maintained to ensure a line of control in both original and re-deployed areas.
- To contribute to the war effort by completing additional work as directed by the government.

Achievements of BRO are as follows:
i) 52 kilometres of vitally critical connectivity In the AoR of Project Vartak, the Lungro GG-Yangtse Road was built across the most inhospitable, stiff hilly terrain with a steep gradient in a remote High-Altitude Area in Arunachal Pradesh. In the year 2020, the road will be available to traffic.
ii) The Sela Tunnel on the road to Tawang is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in November 2022. The tunnel will shorten the road by 9.24 kilometres.
iii) The Brahmaputra Tunnel (underwater) has a length of 12.30 kilometres and was designed to connect the north and south banks of the Brahmaputra River. On July 3, 2020, a contract for the creation of a DPR was granted. The Brahmaputra Tunnel DPR is expected to be finished by September 2021.
iv) The construction of the 450-meter Nechiphu tunnel has begun. Hon'ble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh lay the foundation stone through a video conference on October 12, 2020.
v) During the nationwide lockdown, BRO worked to clear snow from roads across the country. The dedicated effort, advance planning, optimal resource deployment, use of contemporary equipment, and a high level of enthusiasm ensured that critical passes were opened much ahead of the usual opening dates each year, despite record snowfall.

Note: The BRO works on projects in India and other friendly nations. Developing roads, bridges, and airfields in inhospitable environments avoided by private firms, whether owing to security concerns related to wars or environmental issues, is characteristic of these projects.