Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates Siyom Bridge on Along-Yinkiong Road in Arunachal Pradesh.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates Siyom Bridge on Along-Yinkiong Road in Arunachal Pradesh.

Along with the Siyom Bridge, the Raksha Mantri also dedicated 28 infrastructure projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), worth Rs 724 crore, virtually.

The projects comprise 22 bridges, including Siyom bridge; three roads and three other projects in seven border States/Union Territories of Northern & 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.

Speaking on the occasion, the Defence Minister lauded the BRO for relentlessly working towards establishing connectivity in far flung places and at the same time, by ensuring timely completion of these roads and bridges.

He recalls a childhood memory and said, in childhood, the Defense Minister when came across the acronym "BRO", he thought it meant a brother.

He said, but today by looking at the organization's efforts,  their work towards the development of the country, Singh said they are actually the brothers of the armed forces. He coined a new phrase, "BRO is the nation’s bro (brother)”. ‘It’s not the destination, it’s the journey’, he said the construction of road infrastructure in border areas is a journey for BRO and a strong and prosperous India should be its destination.

The Raksha Mantri 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 & 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.

The Defense Minister also said that the country does not believe in war but if the war is forced upon, will fight. The statement is a respond to the recent clash incident which took place between Indian and Chinese troops in Tawang along the LAC.

“The world is witnessing a number of conflicts today. India has always been against war. It is our policy... We do not 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.

Siyom Bridge is a state-of-the-art 100-meter long, Class 70 Steel Arch Superstructure Siyom Bridge over Siyom River in Arunachal Pradesh.  

“This signature bridge is of strategic importance to our defence forces and will facilitate speedy induction of troops, heavy equipment and mechanised vehicles to forward areas of upper Siang district, Tuting and Yinkiong region and will also boost socio-economic development of the region,” the Defence Spokesperson Tezpur said in a statement.

The Defense Minister also virtually inaugurated through virtual mode, three telemedicine nodes connected with Service hospitals through VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) satellite communications system, one at Mizoram and two in Ladakh which will provide prompt medical intervention for medical and surgical emergencies through telemedicine consultation with specialists at Service hospitals using SATCOM VSAT communication. At the ceremony, the Defense Minister also released a ‘Compendium on New Technologies’ that have been adopted by the BRO in construction of roads, bridges, airfields and tunnel infrastructure to negate the effects of remote and hostile terrain with adverse weather condition, which unduly affects the quality of civil engineering works and meeting the completion timelines.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Pema Khandu, MP Arunachal East Shri Tapir Gao, GOC-in-C Eastern Command Lieutenant General RP Kalita and GOC Spear Corps Lieutenant General RC Tiwari were among those who attended the event.

 

(PIB)