Border infrastructure to remain crucial in future warfare: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has emphasised that the government’s endeavour is to build an India where the borders are not only secure but also well connected. He said the government is ensuring that development and national security progress together. Addressing the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Tech Symposium in New Delhi on Thursday, Singh said advanced infrastructure has always been the hallmark of a developed civilisation. He added that the infrastructure being built today will define the country’s civilisation in the years to come. He said the government’s aim is to ensure that no citizen living in remote areas feels cut off from the mainstream.
Highlighting the organisation’s evolution over the past six decades, Singh said the BRO has transformed 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 organisation’s engineering capabilities and commitment to nation-building under challenging conditions.  Referring to the Vibrant Village Programme, the Defence Minister said border villages, once regarded as the country’s last villages, are now being developed as its first villages. He added that the infrastructure being built today would shape India’s development for generations. 

अटल टनल, सेला टनल और उमलिंग ला जैसे निर्माण केवल इंजीनियरिंग की उपलब्धियाँ नहीं, बल्कि BRO के कौशल, समर्पण और Technology के निरंतर adaptation के प्रतीक हैं। नई Technologies को अपनाने, कठिन से कठिन भूभाग में विश्वस्तरीय इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर खड़ा करने और हर चुनौती को अवसर में बदलने की… pic.twitter.com/aWXBFcM08m

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) July 16, 2026

Director General Border Roads Lt Gen Harpal Singh said strategic capability today is increasingly determined by intelligent planning, rapid execution, effective monitoring and sustainable maintenance of infrastructure assets. He said the BRO is undergoing organisational transformation through digital planning, artificial intelligence-enabled solutions, mechanisation, modern construction practices and closer collaboration with industry and academic institutions.  During the event, the Defence Minister presented awards to BRO projects for excellence in infrastructure development. He also launched two digital platforms for project management and recruitment, aimed at strengthening the organisation’s digital capabilities.