Meet Colonel Sphurti Kulkarni and Colonel Shikha Bhadauria, the Women Officers Leading Key BRO Formations

The Border Roads Organisation has marked a significant milestone in women’s leadership with Colonel Sphurti Kulkarni and Colonel Shikha Bhadauria assuming command of two important field formations responsible for maintaining strategic connectivity in sensitive border regions.

Their appointments reflect the growing role of women officers in operational leadership, engineering management and nation-building assignments within the BRO. Both officers are leading formations that support the armed forces, strengthen border infrastructure and improve connectivity for people living in remote areas.

Colonel Sphurti Kulkarni assumed command of 45 Task Force under Project Chetak on 30 July 2026. With this appointment, she became the first woman officer to command the task force responsible for strategic connectivity along India’s western frontier.

The formation plays an important role in the construction, improvement and maintenance of road infrastructure required for the movement of troops, military equipment, essential supplies and civilian traffic.

Strategic roads in border areas are essential for operational preparedness, as they enable the armed forces to mobilise personnel and resources efficiently. They also ensure access to forward areas and help maintain logistical continuity in regions where terrain and weather can create significant challenges.

As commander of 45 Task Force, Colonel Kulkarni will oversee engineering activities, infrastructure development, manpower deployment, equipment management and the maintenance of strategically important routes.

Her responsibilities are also expected to include coordination with military formations, civil authorities and other agencies involved in infrastructure development and border management.

Project Chetak is one of the BRO’s major operational projects associated with the development and maintenance of strategic road networks along India’s western frontier.

The roads constructed and maintained under the project contribute directly to national security while also benefiting local communities by improving access to healthcare, education, markets and administrative services.

Colonel Kulkarni’s appointment is particularly significant because it places a woman officer at the head of a formation entrusted with demanding operational and engineering responsibilities.

BRO personnel working in border areas often face extreme temperatures, difficult terrain, limited working seasons and logistical constraints. Leading such a formation requires technical expertise, administrative capability, sound decision-making and the ability to manage teams under challenging conditions.

Colonel Shikha Bhadauria, meanwhile, assumed command of 32 Border Roads Task Force under Project BEACON on 30 April 2026.

The formation led by Colonel Bhadauria is responsible for maintaining and strengthening strategic road connectivity in North Kashmir.

The region presents complex infrastructure challenges because of its mountainous terrain, heavy snowfall, landslides, harsh winters and weather-related disruptions.

The 32 BRTF works to ensure that critical road links remain operational for the armed forces, local residents, essential services and civilian movement.

Its personnel carry out road construction, maintenance, repair, snow clearance and emergency restoration work to keep strategically important routes open.

Colonel Bhadauria’s role involves overseeing multiple engineering and maintenance activities, managing personnel and machinery, coordinating with government and security agencies and ensuring the timely completion of operationally important projects.

The formation under her command also provides vital infrastructure support for the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.

The pilgrimage requires extensive coordination and sustained road maintenance because thousands of devotees travel through difficult Himalayan terrain to reach the holy cave shrine.

BRO personnel support the pilgrimage by maintaining approach roads, improving surfaces, restoring damaged stretches and responding to disruptions caused by adverse weather or landslides.

The task demands careful planning, rapid response capabilities and close coordination among the BRO, civil administration and security agencies.

Project BEACON has played a major role in developing and maintaining road infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir.

Its work supports military mobility, regional connectivity and access to remote areas that would otherwise remain isolated for long periods, particularly during winter.

The project’s roads also contribute to the social and economic development of local communities by making it easier for residents to reach hospitals, schools, markets and government facilities.

Colonel Bhadauria’s appointment therefore carries both operational and developmental significance.

The command appointments of Colonel Kulkarni and Colonel Bhadauria demonstrate the expanding opportunities available to women officers within the Border Roads Organisation.

Women officers are increasingly being entrusted with leadership roles involving complex infrastructure projects, field formations and assignments in difficult border areas.

These appointments highlight the organisation’s emphasis on professional competence, experience and leadership ability while selecting officers for key positions.

They also reflect a broader shift across India’s uniformed and technical organisations, where women are taking on greater responsibilities in command, engineering, logistics and operational planning.

The Border Roads Organisation is responsible for constructing and maintaining roads, bridges, tunnels, airfields and other strategic infrastructure in some of the country’s most difficult regions.

Its personnel frequently work at high altitudes, in extreme weather and in areas vulnerable to avalanches, floods, landslides and other natural challenges.

The organisation’s work is crucial for national security because it provides the physical infrastructure needed to sustain military deployments and improve mobility along the borders.

At the same time, BRO projects have a transformative impact on the lives of people living in remote and underdeveloped regions.

New and improved roads reduce travel time, connect isolated villages and enable the delivery of essential services.

By leading key field formations under Project Chetak and Project BEACON, Colonel Kulkarni and Colonel Bhadauria are contributing directly to this dual mission of strategic preparedness and national development.

Their appointments also serve as an inspiration for women aspiring to build careers in engineering, the armed forces and other uniformed services.

The two officers are now responsible for leading teams that operate in strategically important and operationally demanding environments.

Their success will depend on effective leadership, disciplined execution, technical planning and the ability to complete critical projects under difficult conditions.

BRO has described the appointments as a reaffirmation of its commitment to excellence, professionalism and inclusive leadership.

Colonel Sphurti Kulkarni’s historic assumption of command of 45 Task Force and Colonel Shikha Bhadauria’s leadership of 32 BRTF together represent an important chapter in the organisation’s journey.

The officers embody the spirit of women in leadership while advancing the BRO’s mission to build, connect and strengthen the nation.

Their appointments reflect the enduring ethos of the Border Roads Organisation and its motto, “श्रमेण सर्वं साध्यम्,” meaning that everything can be achieved through hard work.