On Tuesday, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Siyom bridge in Arunachal Pradesh along with 27 other projects completed by the Border Road Organization (BRO). These projects, which were built at a cost of INR 724 crore, will significantly improve border infrastructure in India, particularly along the Chinese border from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh. The Siyom bridge, which is a 100-meter “Class-70” steel arch superstructure, will allow for the faster deployment of troops, heavy equipment, and mechanized vehicles to the Upper Siang District, Tuting, and Yingkiong regions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
In a speech, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh emphasised the need for India to become self-sufficient and strong in order to effectively respond to potential future challenges. He stated that India is committed to peace and does not seek to engage in war, but is prepared to defend itself if necessary. Singh also recognised the important role of the Border Road Organization (BRO) in improving border infrastructure and increasing security. He specifically mentioned the recent successful efforts of Indian forces in the northern sector, which he attributed to adequate infrastructure development in the region. Singh emphasised the government’s focus on the development of the North-East region and thanked the BRO for its contributions to the Armed Forces and local communities, calling the organization the “nation’s bro (brother).”
He encouraged the BRO to continue working towards a strong and prosperous India. His visit to the state comes less than a month after Indian forces successfully prevented an attempt by Chinese soldiers to establish an observation post inside Indian territory near Tawang, close to the LAC.
In addition to the Siyom bridge, Singh also virtually inaugurated 21 other bridges, three roads, and three additional infrastructure projects in Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Punjab, and Rajasthan. During the event, the Defense Minister also released a compendium on new technologies being adopted by the BRO in the construction of roads, bridges, airfields, and tunnels to mitigate the effects of difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions on the quality of civil engineering work and project timelines.
Source: PIB
