Amid the border stand-off with China in Eastern Ladakh, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today dedicated to the nation 28 infrastructure projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) worth about Rs 724 crores and declared the government’s firm resolve to protect the nation from all threats.

”We don’t believe in war, but if it is forced upon us, we will fight. We are ensuring that the nation is protected from all threats. Our armed forces are ready and it is heartening to see that the BRO is walking shoulder-to-shoulder with them,” he said at an event organised at the Siyom Bridge on Along-Yinkiong Road in Arunachal Pradesh.

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The projects comprise 22 bridges, including the Siyom bridge; three roads and three other projects in seven border states/Union Territories of Northern and North-Eastern regions. Eight of these projects are in Ladakh; five in Arunachal Pradesh; four in Jammu & Kashmir; three each in Sikkim, Punjab & Uttarakhand and two in Rajasthan. In addition, three telemedicine nodes – two in Ladakh & one in Mizoram – were inaugurated.

Rajnath described the projects as a testament to the concerted efforts of the government and the BRO towards the development of border areas in order to enhance the operational preparedness of the armed forces and ensure the socio-economic development of the far-flung regions. He asserted that it was the top priority of the government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to connect the border areas and ensure the development of its residents.

The aim, he said, was to build a strong and self-reliant ‘New India’ to effectively deal with future challenges which might arise due to the constantly-evolving global scenario. “The world is witnessing a number of conflicts today. India has always been against war. It is our policy. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi drew the world’s attention to that resolve when he said ‘this is not the era of war’,” he noted.

The defence minister further highlighted the crucial role played by the BRO in bolstering the country’s security through infrastructure development in border areas. “Recently, our forces effectively countered the adversary in the Northern sector and dealt with the situation with bravery and promptness. This was made possible due to adequate infrastructural development in the region. This motivates us even more for the progress of far-flung areas,” he said.

Terming infrastructure development as a game-changer for the people residing in border areas, Rajnath lauded the BRO for ensuring socio-economic development in far-flung regions. He stressed that the government was paying special attention to the development of the North-Eastern region, which has strengthened the country’s security system.

For the BRO’s relentless efforts to support the armed forces and the local people, he coined a new phrase “BRO is the nation’s bro (brother)”. Quoting a famous phrase ‘It’s not the destination, it’s the journey’, he said the construction of road infrastructure in border areas was a journey for BRO and a strong and prosperous India should be its destination.