The News Freedom
Uttarakhand, January 19
Highlighted the government’s distinctive approach to border area development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today said that unlike previous administrations, the present government views border areas as integral to India’s identity, prioritizing world-class infrastructure in these regions. The Defence Minister expressed confidence in the ‘New India’ approach, asserting that the government is proactively developing infrastructure on mountains and deploying troops on hill borders for effective defense. He addressed the concern of large-scale migration from Uttarakhand’s border areas, noting the government’s commitment to extending infrastructure development schemes from seas to borders.
He inaugurated 35 infrastructure projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in Uttarakhand at a cost of Rs 670 crore. Commending the BRO for bolstering the country’s border infrastructure, he emphasized the significance of connecting remote areas with the rest of the nation both geographically and socially through the construction of roads and bridges.
Emphasizing the strategic and welfare importance of connectivity in border areas, Singh acknowledged the contribution of residents, equating them to unsung soldiers serving the motherland. He underscored the shift from considering border areas as buffer zones to recognizing them as part of the mainstream development agenda.
Singh also flagged the increasing frequency of natural disasters in border states/UTs, linking it to climate change. Recognizing climate change as a national security issue, he announced the Ministry of Defence’s intent to seek cooperation from friendly nations to address this pressing concern.