The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on Wednesday highlighted the critical role of resilient road infrastructure in strengthening border connectivity, national security and economic growth in the Northeast, with senior BRO officer Shri Jitendra Prasad, VSM, Additional Director General, BRO (East), sharing operational insights at the Infra Build Northeast Conference 2026 in Guwahati.
Addressing a Special Session organised by Indian Infrastructure, Shri Prasad drew upon 36 years of BRO experience in some of the country’s most challenging operational environments, including the Northeast, to outline the complexities involved in planning and executing infrastructure projects in remote and difficult terrain.
He identified quality of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), quality assurance and post-construction maintenance as key challenges that need greater attention during the infrastructure lifecycle.
On the adoption of emerging technologies, Shri Prasad highlighted the increasing use of LiDAR and drone-based surveys, Artificial Intelligence, digital twins for project management, mechanised and automated equipment, next-generation pavement materials and precast modular construction technologies.
He also referred to specialised technologies such as Rejupave, a bio-fuel-based solution suited for cold-climate and high-altitude areas, as part of the efforts to improve construction capabilities in difficult terrain.
The BRO official also underlined the operational bottlenecks posed by utility shifting, extreme monsoon conditions and short working seasons, which can lead to delays and frequent disruptions to construction activity. He stressed the need for synchronised planning and coordinated action among all stakeholders to mitigate such challenges.
On future priorities, Shri Prasad emphasised the importance of strategic frontier connectivity and developing alternate axes to provide redundancy in the road network. He also highlighted the need for bypasses around towns and cities and improved connectivity to tourism centres.
He pointed to significant upcoming infrastructure opportunities in the Northeast, including high-speed economic corridors, enhanced road connectivity with ASEAN countries and bridges across the Brahmaputra and other major rivers.
“Let us build the infrastructure that connects the remote villages, connects the border to meet national security, connects the economic hubs to ensure economic growth and, more importantly, connects aspiration with opportunities, North East with Nation, India with the World and for the India of 2047.”
The address underlined the BRO’s expanding role in developing critical infrastructure in some of India’s most challenging terrain, while integrating modern construction technologies with strategic connectivity requirements.
