On his first visit to Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh in 2008, then Defence Minister AK Antony sprang a surprise while addressing the troops by admitting his government’s neglect of the region. He said, "In the past, required attention was not given to this region. There is no point in finding fault with anybody. It's our topmost priority now to develop infrastructure in the Northeast.” He was also reported to have admitted in Parliament that not developing infrastructure on the China border was a "well thought" decision.

In early 2008, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced fast-track development for Arunachal Pradesh - whose territory is disputed by China - by way of some new projects amounting to over Rs. 4000 crores, which included a new rail link between Itanagar and Harmuti, grid-based power project to cover all border villages and a helicopter service between Guwahati and Tawang.

Also in 2008, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the raising of two new mountain divisions for the Indian Army at a cost of Rs 650 crore each. The Army acknowledged that this was the first move taken by the government “to prepare for any possible long-term threat from China.”

To fulfil some aspects of the fast-track development, India's Border Roads Organisation (BRO) had to make some major moves of mobilising/relocating its equipment. It did so and got cracking with projects to make up for decades of delay in constructing roads, bridges and tunnels in mostly very challenging terrain, low temperatures and climatic conditions.

Within a decade BRO had made great progress facilitating faster movement for the Army, which riled the Chinese Communist Party and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) enough for the latter to make major moves of grabbing Indian territory as in Depsang in 2013, Doklum in 2017 and Eastern Ladakh in 2020.

Covid-19 created problems in BRO’s progress. In 2020, the then DG Border Roads, Lieutenant General Harpal Singh was reported to have said, “The foremost challenge facing the BRO is to induct up to 40,000 workers into sites in forward areas after the recent opening of passes. We are talking about migrant workers who play an important role in our construction projects. We are looking at how to make this workforce available at the earliest keeping the challenges posed by the pandemic in mind.”

The BRO’s peak working season extends from May to November. Migrant workers are a key part of the BRO’s workforce involved in building strategic roads, along the country’s northern border with China, scattered across Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Despite the problems caused by the Covid pandemic, BRO made commendable progress, which by 2025 amounts to coming a long way since 2008.

75 critical border projects

On October 12, 2024, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated 75 critical strategic infrastructure projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) virtually from Sukna, Siliguri, marking a significant milestone in the nation's journey of development and connectivity. Also present virtually were governors or chief ministers of the eleven states in which these projects were completed.

Constructed during adverse weather and geographical conditions, the 75 projects encompass a wide array of developmental works aimed at improving accessibility and mobility in the nation’s remotest and most challenging regions. The breakdown of these projects is 22 roads, 51 bridges and two miscellaneous projects.

Fulfilling vital strategic/security imperatives for rapid military deployment against China and Pakistan and enhancing regional connectivity for the benefit of people of many border states, the distribution of the 75 projects is - 19 in Jammu & Kashmir,  11 in Ladakh, 18 in Arunachal Pradesh, 9 in Uttarakhand, 6 in Sikkim, 5 in Himachal Pradesh, 2 each in West Bengal and Rajasthan and one each in Nagaland, Mizoram, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Among the 75 projects, the Kupuk-Sherathang Road in Sikkim stands out as a critical link on a strategic route connecting Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg with the Zuluk axis, providing an alternative pathway for the efficient movement of Army troops, personnel, and machinery. This road plays a pivotal role in national security and military logistics, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity in this high-altitude region.

Another noteworthy achievement is the North-South Road in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, which links to Indira Point, the southernmost tip of India. These projects not only signify developmental milestones but also assert the strategic importance of India’s border and island regions.

Over 450 projects already completed

Over the past five years, the BRO has completed over 450 projects worth Rs.16,000 crore. With the inauguration of these 75 projects, BRO has completed a total of 111 infrastructure projects in 2024 itself at an overall cost of Rs 3,751 crore. This includes 36 projects worth Rs 1,508 crore, such as the state-of-the-art Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, the longest twin lane tunnel in the world, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March 2024. 

In July 2024, PM Modi conducted the “first blast” of the Shinkhun La Tunnel on the Nimu-Padam-Darcha Road which, along with Atal Tunnel, will provide all-weather connectivity to Leh. Constructed at an altitude of 15,800 feet, it will be the highest tunnel in the world. 4.1 kms long, it is a twin –tube tunnel, with unidirectional traffic and cross passages at every 500 metres. It will reduce the travelling time by about 30 minutes, and will also serve as a vital link connecting Lahaul Valley in Himachal Pradesh with the Zanskar Valley in Ladakh. It will boost the security and economy of Ladakh and promote trade, tourism and development in general, bringing new opportunities and improving livelihoods of the local people.

The Chisumle-Demchok Road constructed by BRO at an altitude of 19024 feet is the world’s highest motorable road over Umlingla, the world’s highest mountain pass connecting Chisumle to Demchok in Southern Ladakh, has been recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records.

India's highest airfield

On 23 August 2024 Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for India’s highest airfield being constructed by the BRO at Mudh-Nyoma in Eastern Ladakh with a 2.743 kms runaway and at an altitude of 13,710 ft. This airfield will be developed for wide ranging strategic air assets at a cost of Rs 218 crores. Considering the capability differential vis-à-vis the adversary, China in this case, it is proposed to develop the existing advance landing ground at Nyoma to a full-fledged airbase capable of undertaking operations by wide bodied aircraft like C-17/IL 76 for large scale deployment of troops and their sustenance by air logistics operations, facilitate defensive and offensive operations by fighters and helicopters and operations by civil aircraft. The construction of this airfield will tremendously boost air infrastructure in Ladakh and augment the IAF capability along India's northern borders. The runway of Mudh-Nyoma airfield has been completed in a record timeframe of just two working seasons and the entire project is expected to be completed by November 2025.

Work on the strategically important 121.74 Km long Chushul-Dungti-Fukche-Demchok Road (Union Territory of Ladakh) is being undertaken to make it a single lane national highway by November 2025.

The recently begun Arunachal Frontier Highway will provide inter valley connectivity in Arunachal Pradesh between Kameng, Subansiri, Siang, Lohit and Tirap valleys. Running parallel to the Line of Actual Control, it will provide induction routes and facilitate move and switching of resources for the Army, something which the Chinese are again already most miffed about.

By 2024, BRO’s total tally is over 63,000 kms of roads, over 1056 permanent bridges with a total length of over 72,825 meters, six tunnels and 21 airfields in strategic locations. BRO is also tasked with maintaining these infrastructure including operations such as snow clearance.

(The author, a strategic affairs analyst, is a former Defence Ministry and Indian Army spokesperson. Views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at wordsword02@gmail.com )