Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today asserted that robust border infrastructure will remain a decisive factor in future technology-driven warfare, stressing that roads, tunnels, airfields and ports are as critical to military success as advanced weapons and precision capabilities.
Addressing the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Strategic Infrastructure Conclave in New Delhi, the Defence Minister said that while modern warfare is increasingly shaped by cutting-edge technologies and sophisticated weapon systems, strong infrastructure continues to underpin operational readiness and military mobility.
“Even as state-of-the-art weapons and platforms are being inducted into the defence forces to address the challenges posed by the evolving nature of warfare, ports, airfields, roads & tunnels will continue to play an indispensable role in the future,” he said.
Highlighting the strategic importance of connectivity in national defence, Singh remarked, “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.”
The Defence Minister commended the BRO for adopting niche technologies to develop strategic infrastructure and for advancing the Government’s vision of building world-class connectivity while strengthening national security. He noted that over the past six and a half decades, the organisation has evolved from a road construction agency into one of the world’s leading strategic infrastructure organisations.
Referring to landmark projects such as the Atal Tunnel, Umling La Pass and the Sela Tunnel, Singh said they stand as enduring examples of the BRO’s engineering excellence and dedication under some of the world’s most challenging conditions.
Describing the BRO as a frontline organisation in adopting emerging technologies, he highlighted the growing importance of tunnelling technology, which has transformed both urban metro construction and highway development in mountainous terrain. He said the organisation’s ability to rapidly construct strategic roads and highways across difficult landscapes reflects the combined strength of human determination and technological advancement.
The Defence Minister also underscored the Government’s focus on strengthening connectivity through roads, railways, aviation and digital infrastructure. He said the Vibrant Village Programme is transforming border villages, once regarded as the country’s last villages, into India’s first villages, ensuring that remote communities remain connected to the national mainstream.
“The focus laid on infrastructure post-independence did not match the nation’s capabilities and requirements. We have ensured that no citizen residing in a remote area feels cut off from the mainstream. We are developing border villages, once referred to as the last villages, into the country’s first villages under the ‘Vibrant Village Programme’. A nation with robust infrastructure is the one with a bright future. The infrastructure we are building today will define our civilisation for the next one or two centuries,” he said.
Calling infrastructure development a collective national responsibility, Singh urged industry, academia, engineers and administrators to work together in creating an ecosystem driven by innovation, research and execution excellence.
Director General Border Roads Lt Gen Harpal Singh said the measure of strategic capability is no longer determined solely by the infrastructure created but increasingly by intelligent planning, rapid execution, effective monitoring and sustainable maintenance. He said the BRO is undergoing a technology-driven organisational transformation with greater emphasis on digital planning, AI-enabled solutions, mechanisation, modern construction practices and stronger collaboration with industry and academia to build resilient and future-ready infrastructure.
During the conclave, the Defence Minister presented awards to BRO projects for outstanding performance in strategic infrastructure development. He also launched two digital platforms dedicated to project management and recruitment, marking another milestone in the organisation’s digital transformation.
Singh further released three BRO publications—Path Pradarshak, Oonchi Sadken and Path Vikas—highlighting the organisation’s achievements, engineering innovations, best practices and future roadmap. The BRO Anthem was also unveiled as a tribute to the dedication and service of its personnel.
The two-day Strategic Infrastructure Conclave, which commenced on July 15, brought together senior military leaders, policymakers, infrastructure experts, industry representatives and technology partners to deliberate on emerging technologies, digital transformation, sustainable construction practices and innovative engineering solutions for strategic infrastructure development in India’s border areas. Organised under the theme “Enhancing Capability through Technology, Innovation and Execution Excellence,” the conclave featured thematic sessions covering planning, design, execution, monitoring and future technologies, along with industry interactions showcasing advanced equipment and specialised solutions tailored to the BRO’s operational requirements.
