In an exclusive interview to Ananya Dasgupta, Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan, PVSM, VSM, Director-General, Border Roads Organisation, describes the many challenging initiatives taken up by the organisation to connect India with its remotest corners.
Q: The BRO has built over 65,000 kilometres of roads. What is the one Himalayan feat that you pulled off recently?
A: There has been a surge in the work we do on the borders. And this has come top – down. The Government of India over the last 10 years has given tremendous impetus to the development of border infrastructure. While we were building roads earlier, the pace has remarkably improved. We started by playing catch-up, and now we’ve caught up. Many passes have been connected and we have surmounted many heights. Some of you are bikers, and you would have gone over the Khardung La Pass, which is at 18,400 feet, at the level of Everest Base Camp. Three years ago, we reached Umling La, which is at 19,000 feet. And I think last month, we managed to connect Mig La at 19,400 feet, this is higher than the Everest Base Camp. These are the kinds of milestones that make you happy and proud. We have so many achievements that have entered international records of high-altitude infrastructure development. In eastern Ladakh, we built the Saser Brangsa bridge – over 300 metres long – in less than 347 days at 15,000 feet over a frozen shore. Every sector, whether it is Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, down to Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur – all the border states – we have achieved significant targets. We know we need to do more and we are geared up to do it.
Q: The BRO has built the Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road from Manali to Leh, now the third alternative route. How has that been a game-changer?
A: For one, it’s going to be the shortest avenue to reach Leh – just 298 kilometres. There is only one major pass that we have to cross, which remains snowbound throughout the year. And as of last year, we had begun work on the Shinkun La Pass; the first blast of the Pass was done by the Prime Minister. We have started work on both portals, so you’ll have a tunnel on the Zanskar Range. Once that happens, you have a clean route all the way to Nimmu – 30 kilometres from Leh – through the Zanskar Valley, famous for the Chadar Trek in harsh winters. Connectivity was established last year. We are on track to complete it by the end of next year. Then, you will have a double-lane road of 298 kilometres. From Manali, instead of the normal route through Upshi, you turn towards Darcha, cross the Shinkun La Tunnel (which will come up in about four years), and then you reach Leh. We started with the Srinagar-Zojila route, then the second route which is the Manali-Upshi route – but that isn’t all-weather. Leh is strategically vital, so we need all-weather, shorter connectivity. The third route is a game-changer. We are looking at a fourth route through Takling La. We are building Takling La tunnel, which will join eastern Ladakh directly with Himachal Pradesh.
Q: How challenging is it to build roads such high altitudes?
A: There’s a saying among those who have worked there: only your greatest enemies and deepest friends will visit you in these areas. Tourists see greenery in summer, but come November, it’s desolate – high-speed winds, temperatures of minus 30 to minus 40. Only the local populace and security forces, including the BRO, remain there. You tend to get used to this. We have 66 years of institutional history and tradition in these difficult areas. We pass on the memory of how we worked; and we have sustained this hardship generation after generation.
Q: People often discuss China’s world-class infra. How are we matching up and what is the work BRO is doing so that we are at par with that infra?
A: We have been concentrating on border roads and development of the border areas, but the surge has taken place in the last 10 to 12 years. From the highest level, the government sees border infrastructure sustaining two pillars: security – to reach and sustain forces (roads, bridges, tunnels, airfields) – and economic prosperity. Wherever we build roads, Indian entrepreneurship skills are unmatched. By the time we finish building the road, a tea stall comes up; in the second year, it becomes a restaurant; by the third, it becomes a homestay. This brings employment opportunities and attracts tourists who also go on to invest. The tourists see business opportunities. They invest over there. There were areas where we used to have migration. In places like Leh, Spiti Valley, Joshimath and Mana, people would come down during the winters. Now we have a system of reverse migration. As the honourable Prime Minister and Raksha Mantri ji have said, reverse migration is happening – people are willing to stay. We are building tunnels for winter traffic. Everyone asks this question about China. China is building roads, very good roads – there’s no two ways about that. The second thing as an engineer I would say that what China is building in the Tibet Autonomous Region is on flat tableland. They don’t have the ascent and deep valley gorges which are normal in the Himalayan region. The Chinese area is in rain shadow. Our border is on the watershed, which by definition means that no moisture is able to cross it. The amount of rainfall and the amount of snow which takes place in Tibet is negligible. It is a desert after all. Building over there is a easier. That notwithstanding, we bring the best technology from Nagpur, Delhi, Chennai to the borders – rock-cutting, excavation, surfacing of the roads, everything we are looking at to get better in whatever we are doing. BRO engages contractors to enhance capacity; we are the only government agency working departmentally, that has been our forte, but we are empowered by the government for larger contracts. The Ministry of Defence is pushing it. Contractors bring better machinery and technology to get the work done. The catch-up is just a question of time. In about three, four or five years, we would have achieved the levels we need to be at.
Q: The Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister recently praised your work establishing last-mile connectivity as well as in boosting economic growth.
A: I am very grateful to Shri Pema Khandu, the Chief Minister, for the support he gives to BRO. We have four chief engineering projects. The entire Arunachal Pradesh is covered. The aim is to meet the Army’s needs to see that we reach the border. Earlier, the Trans-Arunachal Highway was 100-140 km from the border. Now, MORTH has cleared the Arunachal Frontier Highway, 30-40 km from the border, distributed to agencies including NHIDCL and PWD. The central 600 km – the most difficult – is with us. Once parallel to the border, northward connectivity becomes easier. Arunachal’s support – forest clearances, land acquisition, setting up stations, project clearances – has been phenomenal. Infrastructure is the game-changer for all border states – Arunachal, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh. They understand roads bring prosperity. We employ 70,000-80,000 local people annually. We cannot work without them. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has said casual paid labour is part of BRO.
Q: You reviewed BRO projects in Bhutan recently. What’s the progress?
A: It was a great honour. I called on His Majesty the King , the Honourable Prime Minister, and various government officials. They have the greatest regard for India’s support and friendship. The Army and BRO have deep linkages with Bhutan. I don’t know if you’ve read the autobiography of His Excellency Tshering Tobgay, Bhutan’s Prime Minister. He grew up in Kalimpong. There were no roads in Bhutan then – they used to take three-day trips on ponies or mules. His mother was employed with BRO. All roads – from Phuentsholing to Thimphu, east-west connectivity, Paro airfield, communications buildings – were built by BRO. We have great affection, and work continues.
Q: What’s the progress on the Indo-Myanmar border and in the Left-Wing Extremism – affected areas of Chhattisgarh?
A: The MHA clearly enunciated the policy to fence the Myanmar border to prevent inimical elements from crossing over. These sparsely populated areas have no approaches. BRO was tasked to build the entire fence – 1,300 km over 10 years. We work under the MHA with clear directions from Shri Amit Shah and security from the Assam Rifles. Despite issues, we began this year – 15 km is completed; we hope to complete over 35 km in the working period in Manipur this season; we also plan to start work in Arunachal. On Left-Wing Extremism, security forces – CRPF, ITBP, Chhattisgarh police – have combated Naxals in Bijapur in southern Chhattisgarh, a stronghold. Last year, we were asked to connect various company operating bases which were set up by the security forces in Chhattisgarh. Initially, we had to build 40 km of road: we have completed cutting; surfacing will be done soon. Additional roads have also been sanctioned. Credit goes to the security forces for the phenomenal work. Building infrastructure in areas where no roads existed wins hearts and minds, bringing locals to the mainstream.
Q: What is the latest tech you use -drones, AI?
A: Engineering needs planning and execution. For planning a road from A to B, we recce, fix sustainable alignment – least bridges, cut-fill, avoiding avalanche/landslide zones. Traditionally, reconnaissance teams went physically. Now drones undertake surveys, geo-sensing is used for accurate geo-maps – everything is streamlined, faster and more accurate. As regards materials, no other place has Northeast-like rainfall or north-like minus-40°C temperature extremes. We worked with CSIR on innovative tech. Rejupe mix allows bitumen work at lower temperatures. We are using steel slag (steel industry waste) as aggregate – no stones are used in the Northeast. We use more modular precast work, so you don’t have to construct there – build in Pathankot/Jammu/Srinagar, transport to Ladakh/Uttarakhand, fix on site. Another aspect we are trying to focus on is slope stabilisation. Himalayan geology is fragile – young mountains, heavy rain/snow, high seismic zone, wind, rockfall, avalanches, landslides. We work with the best companies. A key project to be completed in 15 days is the 400-metre cut-and-cover tunnel on Daulat Beg Oldie Road – avalanches will slide over. The government says we are going to support you. In fact, they urge us to get modern equipment. They encourage us to procure more tools. There is no paucity of funds. This support provides a huge impetus – it drives technological growth and encourages innovation. Many from academia and the R&D industry have come forward with unique solutions. For example, when we need to clear snow from roads, often you can’t even see the road. The operator must be extremely careful not to tip over into the valley, which may be 40–50 feet deep and filled with snow. We have worked with companies to geotag waypoints, allowing snow-clearing machinery to stay accurately on the road. These are very specific challenges, but both industry and academia have risen to the occasion. Together, we’ve found ways forward.
Q : Are you also using climate-friendly materials?
A: That is something we are actively doing. Environmental protection is mandatory. We are not allowed to use bitumen in these regions because it harms the environment and disturbs wildlife. In such areas we use interlocking blocks instead. Initially, the quality of the paver blocks was not strong enough to handle heavy military traffic. But we kept improving, and now we have very high-quality interlocking blocks. We’ve used these even in tough locations like the Saser Brangsa Pass, where roads traditionally got washed away. Now we have all-weather roads. Q: Which project you are excited about for 2026? A: We’d be truly delighted to complete the Nimmu-Padam-Darcha Road. I would really urge everyone to travel on this road – it’s one of the most exciting journeys you can make anywhere in the world. You travel along the Zanskar River for about 70-80 km on a sheer rock wall. You’ll even see ancient rock paintings and wonder who made them and lived there. This road will open up a truly fascinating part of our country. By 2026, we also hope to have made substantial progress on the Shinkun La Tunnel and complete the first year of work on the Arunachal Frontier Highway. We will have connected more passes in Uttarakhand. Every year, we construct roughly 1,100-1,300 km of roads – small by plains standards, but extraordinary considering these are at altitudes of 10,000–14,000 feet, often through gorges and steep terrain. Most importantly, the people living in border areas show tremendous affection and warmth toward us. They understand what a road means – access to schools, banks, healthcare, and a better life. So, while it’s hard to pick one project, every road we build changes lives.
Q: You work in inhospitable conditions. How do your men live and work there?
A: We have heated containers that serve as living shelters, and we provide specialised clothing, including gloves and other safety gear. We follow strict standard operating procedures and conduct daily safety briefings. A medical attendant is always present at each site, and we have evacuation systems ready for emergencies. Despite all precautions, conditions remain harsh – and yes, we do lose people. But our personnel are incredibly brave. Q: Defence personnel, civilians work together in BRO. How do you keep the team motivated? A: The BRO is a great example of combining the military’s mission-oriented work ethic with civilian innovation and technological expertise. Our motto, “Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam” – through hard work, anything is possible – defines us. We have a strong tradition of teamwork. Everyone takes ownership it’s not just about building roads, it’s about owning them.