New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said strategic infrastructure such as roads, tunnels, ports and airfields will continue to play a vital role in national security despite the rapid evolution of modern warfare and the induction of advanced military technologies.
Addressing the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Strategic Infrastructure Conclave in New Delhi, Singh said military strength and precision capabilities are essential in war, but robust infrastructure remains the backbone of successful 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. Therefore, the person who builds that road is as vital a guardian of national security as the soldier who stands at the border,” he said.
The minister praised the BRO for adopting advanced technologies and building strategic infrastructure in some of the country’s most challenging terrains.
He said the organisation has evolved over the past six and a half decades from a road construction agency into one of the world’s most respected strategic infrastructure organisations.
Singh highlighted landmark projects such as the Atal Tunnel, Umling La Pass and Sela Tunnel as examples of BRO’s engineering excellence and dedication. He said these achievements reflect the organisation’s ability to overcome extreme geographical and weather challenges.
Describing BRO as a frontline organisation in adopting modern technologies, Singh said tunnelling technology has transformed infrastructure development from metro construction in cities to highway projects in mountainous regions.
He added that the speed at which BRO builds roads and highways across some of the world’s toughest terrains reflects the combined strength of technology and human resolve.
The minister further said connectivity through roads, rail, air and digital infrastructure is essential for national development. He added that the government is committed to ensuring people living in remote border areas remain connected to the national mainstream.
He also highlighted the Vibrant Village Programme, under which border villages are being developed as the country’s “first villages” instead of being viewed as its last.
According to Singh, the infrastructure being built today will shape India’s future for generations and support the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Urging greater collaboration, Singh said infrastructure development is a collective responsibility. He called on industries to innovate, academia to strengthen research, engineers to develop new solutions, and administrators to ensure effective implementation.
Speaking at the same venue, Director General Border Roads Lt Gen Harpal Singh said strategic capability is no longer measured only by what is built, but also by intelligent planning, rapid execution, effective monitoring and sustainable maintenance of infrastructure assets.
He said the BRO is undergoing organisational transformation through digital planning, AI-enabled solutions, mechanisation, modern construction methods and stronger collaboration with industry and academia to build resilient and future-ready strategic infrastructure.
