Paths to the front line as essential as weapons in modern warfare: Rajnath Singh

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Border Roads Director General Lt Gen Harpal Singh during the Strategic Infrastructure Conclave organized by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) in New Delhi on Thursday. | Photo credit: ANI

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday emphasized the critical role of strategic infrastructure in future conflicts, saying roads, tunnels, airports and ports will remain indispensable even as advanced weapons and cutting-edge military platforms are introduced to the armed forces.

Addressing the Border Roads Organization (BRO) Strategic Infrastructure Conclave at the Manekshaw Center in New Delhi, Mr. Singh said that while military prowess, precision capabilities and advanced technology shape the outcome of wars, robust infrastructure forms the backbone of military operations.

“Sometimes the first line of war is not the border itself, but the road that takes our soldiers to the front line. The person who builds that road is as important a guardian of national security as the soldier who stands on the border,” he said.

Technological progress

The Defense Minister commended the BRO for adopting specialized technologies and modern construction methods to strengthen India’s border infrastructure in line with the government’s vision of enhancing national security and building a developed India by 2047.

Highlighting the transformation of the organization over the past six and a half decades, the minister said the BRO has evolved from a road construction agency to one of the world’s leading strategic infrastructure organizations. He cited major projects such as Atal Tunnel, Umling La Pass Road and Sela Tunnel as examples of the agency’s engineering prowess and commitment to some of the harshest conditions in the world.

Describing the BRO as a pioneer in adopting advanced technology, Mr. Singh said innovations such as tunneling technology had revolutionized connectivity in the hilly areas.

He added that the pace of construction of roads and highways in challenging terrain reflects a combination of technological progress and human determination.

The defense minister also reiterated the government’s focus on improving connectivity through road, rail, air and digital infrastructure and said border villages are being transformed into “first villages” under the Vibrant Village program to ensure inclusive development.

Border Roads Organization Director General Lt Gen Harpal Singh said today’s strategic capacity is determined not only by what is built but also by how effectively projects are planned, executed, monitored and maintained. He said the BRO is undergoing an organizational transformation with greater emphasis on digital planning, artificial intelligence solutions, mechanization, modern construction techniques and stronger collaboration with industry and academia to build a resilient, future-ready strategic infrastructure.

Published – 16 Jul 2026 22:35 IST