Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, May 17: Project Beacon which is the pioneer project of Border Roads Organization (BRO) has completed its 60 years of development and construction of vital projects that are fulfilling needs of people as well as strategic requirements of defence forces.
Officials of the Project said that Beacon was raised in was raised on 18 May 1960 with its HQ at Srinagar (J&K) for “putting life into the lifelines of J&K” by braving remote and inhospitable terrain, adverse climatic conditions and insurgency.
Officials said the Project has constructed over 4,000 Km of roads and airfields in J&K which connect various areas within JK as well as with other states including Himachal via Galhar-Sansari road, Punjab via Bani-Bharderwah road and to Ladakh via Zojila Pass, thus providing trans-region connectivity.
In addition to maintaining upkeep of Jawahar tunnel, the important link between Jammu and Srinagar, the Project Beacon has also played a pivotal role in development of Hydel Power Projects, namely Kishenganga in Gurez valley, SHEP in Ramban district and Kirthai project in Kishtwar district of J&K.
“Despite unprecedented snowfall last winter, all roads were kept open & even areas of Tutmarigali, Machal and Keran along LoC were kept accessible throughout the winters for the first time. Also, Road Galhar-Sansari linking Kishtwar region of J&K with Pangi Valley of Himachal Pradesh was kept open all through the winters for the first time,” officials said.
The Project Beacon provides job opportunities to approximately 7,000 locals by engaging them in these construction projects. Officials said that the Beacon is presently developing and maintaining a road network of approximately 2285 kilometers.
“The Project reopened the important and treacherous Zojila and Razdan Passes in a record time much earlier as compared to previous years. Even during the COVID lockdown and paucity of labour, several restoration works including connectivity on road Ramban-Gul, Nashri Bypass and road Galhar-Sansari was restored. Jawahar Tunnel was functional throughout, snow clearance works on Road Banihal Old Alignment, (alternate route for Jawahar Tunnel) were undertaken during the lockdown and the road was opened for traffic ahead of schedule,” they said.
Officials said that with the induction of modern plant and equipment, the Project is implementing more infrastructure and social economic development works in Jammu & Kashmir. “Project Beacon has been the torch bearer of BRO for the last 60 years and has set higher bench marks on each task/mission that it has undertaken in the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir,” they said. |
