NEW DELHI: Inaugurating 125 border infrastructure projects, including the key Shyok tunnel in Ladakh, defense minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said they will not only ensure faster mobility of troops & weapons, but also boost tourism, employment & stronger faith in democracy among people living in remote regions.The projects, the highest number to be inaugurated simultaneously, will significantly improve last-mile connectivity to remote villages & forward military locations, ensuring uninterrupted movement through landslide and avalanche-prone areas.
new border connectivity projects lifelines for security, economy & disaster management:RajnathFrom the site of the 920-metre Shyok tunnel on the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie Road in Ladakh, Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated 28 roads, 93 bridges & four other projects spread across Ladakh, J&K, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Mizoram, which were completed at a total cost of Rs 5,000 crore by Border Roads Organisation. He also inaugurated the Galwan War Memorial.Noting the Modi government’s “unwavering commitment” to keep strengthening border infrastructure & developing border areas in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat, Singh said these connectivity projects are lifelines for security, economy & disaster management. The speed with which India is strengthening its borders with roads, tunnels, smart-fencing, integrated command centers and surveillance systems is proof that connectivity is a backbone of security, and not a separate entity, he said. “Our government, armed forces and organizations like the BRO are working diligently for holistic development of our border areas. We must continue strengthening the bond between the border regions and the national mainstream so that the relationship is not influenced by any external factors,” he said.Referring to the successful conduct of Operation Sindoor, he said, “Our armed forces launched the operation in response to the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Everybody knows what befell those terrorists. We could have done much more, but our forces, demonstrating both courage and patience, only did what was necessary.”“Such a massive operation was possible due to our strong connectivity. Logistics were delivered to the armed forces in a timely manner. Our connectivity with the border areas was maintained, making the operation a historic success,” he added.
