Roads to frontline as crucial as weapons in modern warfare: Rajnath Singh
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday underlined the critical role of strategic infrastructure in future conflicts, asserting that roads, tunnels, airfields and ports will remain
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday underlined the critical role of strategic infrastructure in future conflicts, asserting that roads, tunnels, airfields and ports will remain indispensable despite the induction of advanced weapons and cutting-edge military platforms into the armed forces. Addressing the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Strategic Infrastructure Conclave at Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, Mr. Singh said that while military prowess, precision capabilities and modern technologies shape the outcome of wars, robust infrastructure forms the backbone of military operations. “Sometimes, the first front of a war is not at the border itself, but on the road that leads our soldiers to the frontline.
The person who builds that road is as vital a guardian of national security as the soldier who stands at the border,” he said. Technological advancement The Defence Minister lauded the BRO for embracing niche technologies and modern construction methods to strengthen India’s border infrastructure in line with the government’s vision of enhancing national security and building a developed India by 2047. Highlighting the organisation’s transformation over the past si and-a-half decades, the Minister said the BRO has evolved from a road construction agency into one of the world’s leading strategic infrastructure organisations. He cited landmark projects such as the Atal Tunnel, Umling La Pass road and the Sela Tunnel as examples of the agency’s engineering capabilities and commitment under some of the world’s harshest conditions.
Describing the BRO as a frontrunner in adopting advanced technologies, Mr. Singh said innovations such as tunnelling technology have revolutionised connectivity in mountainous regions. He added that the organisation’s pace of road and highway construction across difficult terrain reflects the combination of technological advancement and human determination. The Defence Minister also reiterated the government’s focus on improving connectivity through road, rail, air and digital infrastructure, saying border villages are being transformed into “first villages” under the Vibrant Village Programme to ensure inclusive development. Director General Border Roads Organisation Lt. Gen. Harpal Singh said strategic capability today is determined not only by what is built but also by how efficiently projects are planned, executed, monitored and maintained.
The BriefWire