Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd), virtually attended the inauguration of 75 infrastructure projects across 8 States and 3 Union Territories, including 2 roads and 9 bridges in Ladakh, led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh from Gangtok, Sikkim.

The 75 infrastructure projects, comprising 22 roads, 51 bridges, and 2 miscellaneous projects, have been developed at a total cost of Rs 2,236 crore. The Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, and senior officials from the Army and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) were present at the event held in Sherathang, Sikkim.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) executed all of these projects. Advisor Dr. Pawan Kotwal, IAS; Col. Tarun Kalia from Project Himank; and Col. Rupam Chatterjee from Project Vijayak also attended the virtual inauguration at the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat.

Out of the 11 projects in Ladakh, Project Vijayak completed seven, including two National Highway double-lane (NHDL) roads and five Class 70 R bridges. These projects include the following:
•    A 4 km-long NHDL road on the Zoji-La-Kargil-Leh National Highway
•    A 15 km-long NHDL road on the Leh-Chalunka axis
•    The 42.67m span steel modular Drass Bridge on Drass-Umba La-Sankoo Road
•    The 42.67m span steel modular Astakappa Bridge on Drass-Umba La-Sankoo Road
•    The 42.67m steel modular Sapi-I Bridge on Sankoo-Kunnore Sapi-La-Mulbekh Road
•    The 20m steel superstructure Skurbuchan Bridge on Khaltse-Batalik Road
•    The 60m steel superstructure Hinachi Bridge on Sasoma-Warshi-Snout Road

Additionally, Project Himank completed two projects including, 80m steel superstructure Hemya-I Bridge on Leh-Loma Road and 21m concrete beam Kayamlungpa Bridge on Leh-Upshi-Sarchu Road.

These roads and bridges aim to enhance connectivity and drive socio-economic development in the region.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the BRO’s dedication to improving connectivity in remote areas and ensuring the timely completion of these infrastructure projects. He emphasized the government's commitment to bolstering infrastructure in border regions to meet the country’s security requirements.