SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure | SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities
Institutions: Ministry of Defence
On 21 September 2025, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated the 15th Raising Day of Project Vijayak in Kargil, Ladakh, marking its transition into the 16th year of operations. The government announced an infrastructure expansion plan worth over ₹1,200 crore, targeting new roads, tunnels, bridges, and modernization using geotextiles, slope stabilization, and digital monitoring tools. Over its first 15 years, Project Vijayak has built and maintained more than 1,400 km of roads and 80 major bridges, even achieving a record reopening of the Zojila Pass within 31 days of its winter closure in April 2025. The project also emphasized welfare measures for casual laborers, including better shelters, sanitation, protective gear, and health camps.
Frontier infrastructure in high-altitude zones is critical for national security, connectivity, and socio-economic development of remote regions. Investing in resilient roads and bridges strengthens defense logistics, enhances local access, and integrates frontier communities into broader development trajectories.
At the same time, large-scale road and tunnel construction in ecologically fragile Himalayan terrain carries risks of landslides, soil erosion, and climate-sensitive ecosystem disruption. Balancing strategic imperatives with environmental safeguards will be essential to ensure that frontier connectivity does not undermine long-term geological stability and community resilience.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can the Ministry of Defence and BRO ensure that the new infrastructure in Ladakh is climate-resilient and environmentally sound, minimizing risks of landslides and ecological disruption?
Follow the full news here: Project Vijayak (BRO) Celebrates 15th Raising Day in Kargil with Rs 1,200 Crore Infrastructure Push