Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated its 58th Raising Day on 07 May 2018. BRO, today, is a leader in the arena of infrastructural development in the border areas of the country. Since its inception in 1960, so far the Organisation has grown from 02 to 19 projects.
What is BRO?
BRO develops and maintains road networks in India’s border areas and friendly neighbouring countries. The BRO personnel are drawn from engineering regiments and personnel on extra regimental employment. Personnel from the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) are also an important part of BRO.
The BRO has its job in task forces which is also known as PROJECTS. The task forces/PROJECTS of BRO are
- Arunank
- Beacon
- Brahmank
- Chetak
- Deepak
- Dantak
- Himank
- Hirak
- Pushpak
- Sampark
- Setuk
- Sewak
- Shivalik
- Swastik
- Udayak
- Vartak
- Vijayak
Border Roads Development Board
The coordination and expeditious execution of projects is being monitored by the Border Roads Development Board (BRDB) with the Prime Minister as Chairman of the Board and Defence Minister as Deputy Chairman.
Today, the board exercises the financial and other powers of a Department of Government of India and is chaired by the Minister of State for Defence. The COAS, CAS, Engineer-in-Chief, DGBR, FA(DS) are members of the BRDB.
The Secretary of the Board exercises the powers of Joint Secretary to the Government of India. The executive head of the GREF is the DGBR who holds the rank of Lieutenant General.
In a bid to boost border connectivity, the Border Roads Organisation has been entirely brought under the Ministry of Defence. Earlier it received funds from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Achievements and Operations
Currently, BRO maintains operations in 21 states, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and neighbouring countries. It operates and maintains over 32,885 kilometres of roads and about 12,200 meters of permanent bridges in the country. Presently, BRO is also involved in the construction of a tunnel at the Rohtang pass which is estimated to be ready by 2019. It is currently headed by Lt General SK Shrivastava who is the 25th Director General Border Roads (DGBR).
The organisation employs labourers locally. No local labourer is deployed in the GREF for more than 179 days at a stretch, thus keeping the nature of their employment casual.
Conclusion
The works executed have ensured the territorial integrity and the socio-economic upliftment of the most inaccessible regions of the country as well as India’s neighbourhood. Works executed in friendly foreign countries are a message of the Organisation’s ideology ‘Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam’. BRO endeavours to explore new frontiers while it undertakes systematic modernisation of its construction techniques. Its focus remains on enhanced productivity and quality construction.
