Rajnath Singh inaugurates bridges in border areas
Bridges are critical component of a country’s infrastructure: Lt Guv Sinha
Dehradun/Srinagar: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday virtually inaugurated 44 bridges built by the Border Roads Organisation in seven states, including the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
The defence minister said they will usher in a new era of connectivity and development in the border regions.
Singh also laid the foundation stone of the Nechifu tunnel on Tawang Road in Arunachal Pradesh.
Rajnath Singh inaugurated 10 bridges in Jammu and Kashmir; eight each in Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh; four each in Punjab and Sikkim; and two in Himachal Pradesh.
Simultaneous inauguration of such a large number of bridges is a record in itself, he said, adding the Atal tunnel in Rohtang was inaugurated recently.
India shares borders with Pakistan and China where tensions persist and the bridges will help in transporting necessary items to the defence forces besides fulfilling aspirations of people, Singh said.
Praising the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for the work, Rajnath Singh said its budget has been increased threefold in the past four to five years and it is showing results.
Though coronavirus has affected all parts of the country, it is bravely grappling with tensions at borders and the challenges posed by the pandemic under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat thanked the defence minister for inaugurating the bridges, saying they are vital not just strategically but also from the tourism point of view.
The newly built bridges in the state will be of great convenience to Mansarovar pilgrims and tourists, he said.
Constructing bridges of such standards in remote areas reflects the commitment of the government and the efficiency of the BRO, he said.
Notably, the 10 bridges of J&K inaugurated were- Isham Bridge, Dahi Bridge, Dandi Bridge, Saniyal Bridge, Baniyari Bridge, AIK Bridge, Kallah Bridge, Madhun Bridge, Babban Bridge and Batha Bridge.
Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, Border Roads Organization and every individual associated with the construction of these vital bridges in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The day is special for J&K as 10, out of the 44 bridges being inaugurated today are for the UT, said the Lt Governor.
He observed that the newly inaugurated bridges would play a crucial role in strengthening the connectivity to the far flung areas of J&K and enhancing the operational efficiency of our Defence Forces.
The bridges are crucial for the region for rapid development and defence purposes. Not only will connect people from remote parts of J&K to the rest of the nation but will also serve the Defence Forces serving in here.
“I strongly believe that bridges are not only critical component of a country’s infrastructure but they connect people and have power to change the destiny of a society and economy of the region,” he added.
Prime Minister also believes that no nation can progress without giving special attention to infrastructure building. Jammu and Kashmir is treading fast on the road to development, peace and prosperity. Development has reached to remote villages of the UT and these bridges will further help connect many villages, the Lt Governor maintained.
Underlining the significance of newly inaugurated bridges, the Lt Governor observed that the bridge on Bandipora-Gurez road over Dahi Nallah would connect villages which used to remain cut off from even district headquarters for about half an year; the Madhun Bridge in Rajpura would facilitate the villagers as well as defence forces; the Dandi Bridge in Bhaderwah would help encourage more tourist inflow and the bridge over Babban Nallah in Samba would facilitate the locals as well as defence forces during peak monsoons. Similarly, the Batha Bridge over Batha Nallah in Samba would also provide much relief to the villagers as well as the forces during monsoons, he added.
Just as one Oresund Bridge helped boost the economy of Denmark, I firmly believe that these 10 bridges will also prove to be a boon for the UT. I am certain that these bridges will further facilitate journey embarked upon by J&K since August last year, said the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor congratulated the DG BRO for his active efforts in providing these lifelines to villages of J&K.
I extend my gratitude towards the Defence Minister, Sh. Rajnath Singh for his able administration which shall increase operational efficiency of our Forces, the Lt Governor added. (with inputs from PTI)
Press Trust of India
