New Delhi: Even as the armed forces induct advanced weapons and platforms to meet the changing nature of warfare, critical infrastructure such as ports, roads and tunnels will remain indispensable, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday.
Addressing the Strategic Infrastructure Conclave organised by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Singh said the outcome of war is largely shaped by military capability, precision systems and modern technology, but basic infrastructure remains central to enabling 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.
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Singh praised the BRO for adopting niche technologies to build robust infrastructure and said the organisation has played a key role in advancing the government’s vision of world-class infrastructure, stronger national security and a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
He said border infrastructure will continue to be essential in technology-driven warfare and stressed that connectivity remains an important part of civilisational development. The government, he added, has ensured that no resident of a remote area feels disconnected from the mainstream.
The minister said innovation, research and excellence in execution are key to building future-ready strategic infrastructure. “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 and tunnels will continue to play an indispensable role in the future,” he said.
The two-day conclave, which began on Wednesday, is discussing emerging technologies, innovative engineering solutions, digital tools for planning, project monitoring and execution, sustainable construction methods and best practices for accelerating strategic infrastructure development in border areas.
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According to the Defence Ministry, the event brought together senior military leadership, policymakers, infrastructure experts, BRO officers, industry leaders and technology partners.
Singh said the BRO has evolved over the past 6.5 decades from a road construction agency into one of the world’s most respected strategic infrastructure organisations. He cited Atal Tunnel, Umling La Pass and Sela Tunnel as examples of the organisation’s capabilities.
He also highlighted the BRO’s adoption of tunnelling technology, saying it has transformed both metro construction in cities and highway development in mountainous regions. The pace of road and highway construction in difficult terrain, he said, reflects the combined strength of human resolve and modern technology.
BRO Director General Lt Gen Harpal Singh said strategic capability is now judged not just by what is built, but by how intelligently it is planned, how quickly it is executed, how effectively it is monitored and how sustainably it is maintained.
He said the BRO is undergoing organisational transformation through technology, innovation and institutional reforms, with emphasis on digital planning, AI-enabled solutions, modern construction methods, mechanisation and greater collaboration with industry and academia.
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Singh also presented awards for various BRO projects, launched two digital platforms for project management and recruitment, and released three BRO publications — Path Pradarshak, Oonchi Sadken and Path Vikas. The BRO Anthem was also unveiled as a tribute to its personnel, the ministry said.
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