Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday that border infrastructure, including roads, tunnels, airfields and ports are very important for warfare. He said that with new technology changing the way wars are fought these basic infrastructures will still be essential.
The Core Message
Speaking at the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Strategic Infrastructure Conclave in New Delhi, Singh said that even as state-of-the-art weapons and platforms continue to be inducted into India’s armed forces to address the challenges posed by evolving forms of warfare, foundational infrastructure such as ports, airfields, roads, and tunnels will continue to play an indispensable role going forward. He emphasised that while the outcome of any conflict is largely shaped by military prowess, precision capabilities, and modern technology, basic infrastructure remains central to enabling military operations in the first place.
In one of the more memorable formulations of his address, Singh observed that the first front of a war is sometimes not at the border itself, but on the very road that leads soldiers to the frontline, and argued that the individual who builds that road is therefore just as vital a guardian of national security as the soldier standing watch at the border.
Praise for BRO’s Six-Decade Transformation
Singh used the occasion to commend the Border Roads Organisation for its adoption of specialised technologies in constructing robust infrastructure across some of the country’s most challenging terrains. He noted that over the past six and a half decades, the BRO has evolved from what was originally a straightforward road construction agency into one of the world’s most respected strategic infrastructure organisations.
Highlighting specific achievements, Singh pointed to projects including the Atal Tunnel, the Umling La Pass, and the Sela Tunnel as what he described as living testaments to the organisation’s capability and sustained hard work. He said the BRO’s personnel had repeatedly demonstrated that, with a genuine spirit of service to the nation, virtually any engineering or logistical challenge could be overcome even under the harshest of environmental conditions.
Tunnelling Technology as a Particular Highlight
Describing the BRO as a frontline organisation when it comes to adopting the latest available technologies, Singh made specific mention of tunnelling technology, which he said has driven a broader transformation extending from metro construction projects in Indian cities to highway development across mountainous border regions. He characterised the speed at which the BRO is now able to construct roads and highways across some of the world’s most difficult terrains as unprecedented, describing it as a reflection of the combined strength of human resolve and technological capability working in tandem.
Linking Infrastructure to Broader National Goals
Singh said that the BROs work is part of the governments plan to build world-class infrastructure and make India a developed country by 2047. He said that building border infrastructure is not a military need but also important for Indias long-term development.
Border Villages and the Vibrant Villages Programme
Singh also talked about the governments plan to develop border villages under the Vibrant Villages Programme. He said that the goal is to make these villages into developed settlements, not remote areas.
Context: A Broader Push on Modern Warfare Preparedness
Singh’s remarks on infrastructure form part of a broader, ongoing set of public statements he has made in recent months regarding India’s preparedness for evolving forms of warfare. He has separately stressed the growing importance of drone technology in modern military strategy, pointing to lessons drawn from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict regarding the extensive and continuous use of drones on the battlefield, and has called for their formal incorporation into India’s broader war policy and defence planning.
Singh has also previously reaffirmed that Operation Sindoor, a significant Indian security operation, remains active in a paused rather than concluded state, while emphasising the need for continuous adaptation to new threats and technologies within India’s defence establishment, alongside growing self-reliance in the domestic manufacture of advanced defence equipment.
Why This Matters
Singhs remarks show that Indias defence establishment recognises the importance of infrastructure in modern warfare. He said that with advanced technology physical infrastructure is still crucial for military success.
What Comes Next
The BROs Strategic Infrastructure Conclave has showcased its achievements and priorities. Attention will now turn to how the organisation will continue to use technologies to build border infrastructure. Further announcements, on projects and funding are likely to follow.
