Rajnath Singh Dedicates Historic 125 BRO Infrastructure Projects in Ladakh, Marking Record Single-Day Inaugurations
In a significant advancement for India's border connectivity, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday inaugurated 125 strategic infrastructure projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) from Ladakh. This event marked the most extensive simultaneous inaugurations ever conducted.
The projects, valued at ₹5,000 crore, encompass 28 roads, 93 bridges, and 4 other works. These developments span across two Union Territories—Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir—and seven states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Mizoram.
The ceremony took place on the strategic Darbuk–Shyok–Daulat Beg Oldie (DS-DBO) Road, where Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 920-meter Shyok Tunnel. Situated in one of the world's most challenging landscapes, the tunnel ensures all-weather access, facilitating secure and rapid troop movement to crucial forward locations, especially during adverse weather conditions.
The Defence Minister highlighted that the project will significantly bolster security, mobility, and troop deployment capabilities along the critical northern frontier.
Rajnath Singh also virtually inaugurated the Galwan War Memorial, dedicated to honoring the bravery and sacrifice of Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley.
During the ceremony, the Defence Minister mentioned that the success of Operation Sindoor, initiated after the Pahalgam terror attack, was attributed to strong border connectivity and seamless coordination among the Armed Forces, civil administration, and border residents.
He stated, "This mutualism is India’s identity and what makes us unique in the world."
Emphasizing the government's commitment to border development, Rajnath Singh noted that robust infrastructure enhances:
| Military mobility |
| Logistics and supply chain reliability |
| Tourism and employment |
| Disaster response |
| Public confidence in national development |
He stressed that the swift evolution of roads, tunnels, smart fencing, command centers, and surveillance systems along India’s borders reflects a security strategy where connectivity underpins national defense.
The Defence Minister commended the BRO for its outstanding performance, highlighting:
| Record expenditure of ₹16,690 crore in FY 2024–25 |
| Target of ₹18,700 crore for FY 2025–26 |
| Significant role in rescue operations in Uttarakhand, North Sikkim, and J&K this year |
| Progress in indigenous Class-70 modular bridges, produced with Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers |
“These bridges and roads are powerful examples of India’s growing engineering self-reliance under Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” he added.
Rajnath Singh also spoke on India's transformation in defense manufacturing, stating that defense production increased from ₹46,000 crore in 2014 to ₹1.51 lakh crore in 2025, while defense exports rose from under ₹1,000 crore to nearly ₹24,000 crore over a decade.
BRO Director General Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan expressed gratitude to the government for its support, acknowledging BRO's position as the preferred executing agency for ministries like Home Affairs, External Affairs, and Road Transport, given its expertise in operating in challenging terrains.
In the past two years alone, 356 BRO projects have been dedicated to the nation. With funding increased from ₹6,500 crore to ₹7,146 crore in the 2025–26 Union Budget, BRO continues to play a critical role in enhancing India’s border security, connectivity, and strategic preparedness.
