The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is an integral Part of Army statutory body under the ownership of the Ministry of Defence of the Government of India. BRO develops and maintains road networks in India's border areas and friendly neighboring countries. This includes infrastructure operations in 19 states and three union territories (including Andaman and Nicobar Islands) and neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Tajikistan, and Sri Lanka. By 2022, BRO had constructed over of roads, over 450 permanent bridges with a total length of over , and 19 airfields in strategic locations. BRO is also tasked with maintaining this infrastructure, including operations such as snow clearance.Annual Report 2014–2015. Border Roads Organisation. (Chapter 7). Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Government of India. Archived on 12 February 2021.Annual Report 2002–2003. Border Roads Organisation. (Chapter 8). Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Government of India. Archived on 12 February 2021.Annual Report 2015–2016. Ministry of Defence. Government of India. Accessed on 13 June 2021.
Officers from the Border Roads Engineering Service (BRES) and personnel from the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) form the parent cadre of the BRO. It is also staffed by officers and troops drawn from the Indian Army Corps of Engineers on extra regimental employment (on deputation). The Indian Army Pioneer Corps is attached to the BRO task forces. BRO is also included in the Order of Battle of the Armed Forces, ensuring their support at any time. The organisations motto is Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam (everything is achievable through hardwork).
BRO is instrumental in significantly upgrading and building new India-China Border Roads (ICBRs). BRO set a Guinness World Record in November 2021 for the "highest altitude road" at Umling La, Ladakh. BRO has been instrumental in constructing projects like Atal Tunnel, Atal Setu, and Col Chewang Rinchen Setu, to name a few.
History
The BRO was formed on 7 May 1960 to secure India's borders and develop infrastructure in remote areas of the north and north-east states of the country. To ensure coordination and expeditious execution of projects, the Government of India set up the Border Roads Development Board (BRDB) with the prime minister as chairman of the board and with the defence minister as deputy chairman.
Today, the BRDB exercises the financial and other powers of a Department of the Government of India and is chaired by the Minister of State for Defence. Among others, Chief(s) of Army and Air Staff, Engineer-in-Chief, Director General Border Roads (DGBR), and FA(DS) are members of the BRDB. The secretary of the board exercises the powers of Joint Secretary to the Government of India. The executive head of the BRO is the Director General Border Roads (DGBR), who holds the rank of lieutenant general. In a bid to boost border connectivity, BRO has been entirely brought under the Ministry of Defence in 2015. Earlier, it received funds from the Ministry of Surface Transport under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Organisation The BRO consists of the Border Roads Wing under the Ministry of Defense and the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF). Officers are selected through the IES Examination conducted by the UPSC. Officers are also deputed from the Indian Army Corps of Engineers, who are posted to GREF on ERE. The GREF includes civil engineers, mechanical engineers, administrative officers, and medical officers.
The Border Roads Engineering Service (BRES) officers are governed by the Central Civil Services (CCS/ CCA) Rules, 1965. They are also subjected to all provisions of the Army Act, 1950 and Army Rules, 1954, except for a few exceptions as given in SRO 329 and SRO 330, both 23 September 1960. GREF is an integral part of the Armed Forces within meaning of Article 33 of the Constitution of India and members of GREF are also members of the Armed Forces as declared by the Supreme Court in respect of R. Viswan vs Union of India 1983 and authorized for all benefits which apply to Armed Forces of India. The organisation's operations are spread across India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan. The BRO includes 18 projects, which are divided into Task Forces, Road Construction Companies (RCCs), Bridge Construction Companies (BCCs), Drain Maintenance Companies (DMCs), and Platoons. The organisation also includes base workshops, store divisions, training and recruitment centers, and other staff.
An Internal Financial Advisor (IFA) supports the BRO, performing the roles of Chief Accounts Officer and Internal Auditor. This system was introduced on 23 March 1995 to introduce efficiency and improve resource utilisation. The IFA secured ISO 9001 certification in December 1999. The organisation employs laborers locally. No local labourer is deployed in BRO for more than 179 days at a stretch, thus keeping the nature of their employment casual.
Director General of Border Roads
A list of the Director General of Border Road (DGBR): List of DGBR#Officeholders1Maj Gen KN Dubey, 2Maj Gen RA Loomba3Maj Gen Arjan Singh4Maj Gen JS Bawa, 5Brig Gobinder Singh (officiating)6Maj Gen VV Bhide, 7Maj Gen JS Soin, 8Maj Gen S Ahluwalia, 9Maj Gen JM Rai, 10Maj Gen JC Sachdeva, 11Lt Gen MS Gosain, 12Lt Gen Maharaj Singh, 13Lt Gen Vimal Shinghal, 14Lt Gen RJ Mordecai, 15Lt Gen AK Puri, 16Lt Gen Prakash Suri, 17Lt Gen Ranjit Singh, 18Lt Gen KS Rao, 19Lt Gen AK Nanda, 20Lt Gen MC Badhani, 21Lt Gen S Ravi Shankar, 22Lt Gen AT Parnaik, 23Lt Gen RM Mittal, 24Lt Gen Suresh Sharma, 25Lt Gen SK Shrivastava, 26Lt Gen Harpal Singh, 27Lt Gen Rajeev Chaudhry, 28Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan, 29Lt Gen Harpal Singh, (incumbent)
Centres of excellence In June 2021, the "Centre of Excellence for Road Safety & Awareness" and "Centre of Excellence for Roads, Bridges, Air Fields and Tunnels" were set up.
Ranks Officers
Other ranks
Role of the BRO
BRO is entrusted with the construction of roads, bridges, tunnels, causeways, helipads, and airfields. The BRO is also in charge of the maintenance of its road networks. In many places, landslides, avalanches, and snow block the routes and have to be cleared as quickly as possible. BRO also employs more than 200,000 casual paid labourers for the task.
During Peace
To develop and maintain the operational road infrastructure of General Staff (GS) roads in the border areas. To contribute to the socio-economic development of the border states.
During War
To develop and maintain roads to keep the line of control through in original sectors and re-deployed sectors. To execute additional tasks as laid down by the government contributing to the war effort.
Research and development collaboration
BRO collaborates with Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to bring the private sector innovations to border areas with the military's mission-oriented precision and discipline. This includes the use of the rejupe mix which allows bitumen to work at lower temperatures, use of high quality interlocking paver blocks in the durable roads at icy alpine heights, geotagging waypoints allowing snow-clearing machinery to stay accurately on the road while road is covered with snow with steep cliff-face gorges, etc.Linking frontiers with the nation, The Statesman, 5 Nov 2025.
Border infrastructure development
In response to the ever-present security threat from Pakistan and increased incursions and rapid border infrastructure from China, India, too, is undertaking border infrastructure development.
Project names by geography
The BRO undertakes projects in India and friendly countries. These projects typically include developing roads, bridges, and airfields in hostile environments shunned by private enterprises, whether due to security concerns related to hostilities or because of environmental challenges. BRO has been active during the 1962 war, the conflicts with Pakistan in 1965 and 1971, and has also been active in anti-insurgency operations in the northeast.
The BRO operates in 18 projects namely: Arunank, Beacon, Brahmank, Chetak, Deepak, Dantak (Bhutan), Himank, Hirak, Pushpak, Sampark, Yojak, Sewak, Shivalik, Swastik, Udayak, Vartak and Vijayak.Standing Committee on Defence (February 2019) Fiftieth Report: Provision of all-weather road connectivity under Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and other agencies up to International borders as well as the strategic areas including approach roads- An appraisal. Ministry of Defence, Lok Sabha Secretariat, Government of India. from the original on 19 June 2020.
Project Vijayak, raised in 2010, Project Vijayak has developed over 1,400 km of roads and 80 bridges in Ladakh. On its 15th Raising Day in 2025, it announced ₹1,200 crore worth of new works, including tunnels, bridges, and advanced road technologies. The project is noted for reopening the Zojila Pass within 31 days in 2025, and reflects India's focus on connectivity and development in remote frontier
+BRO projects in India and friendly nationsBRO ProjectsHQ/ LocationController General of Defence Accounts (2008). IFA (Border Roads Manual). Ministry of Defence India. pg 12. Accessed on 13 July 2021.NotesJammu, Kashmir, Ladakh1BeaconSrinagarBeacon is the oldest BRO project (along with Vartak). Initially known as Chief Engineer Roads (Ladakh) when it was initiated in 1960, it was renamed as Chief Engineer Project Beacon. Roads under Beacon include NH1A, NH1B, NH1D, Zoji La tunnel.2HimankLehBeacon was divided into projects Sampark and Himank.3SamparkJammu4VijayakLehRaised in September 2010.5Nimmu-Padam-DarchaLadhakstrategically important all-weather 298 km long Nimmu-Padam-Darcha RoadSikkim, Northeast6VartakTezpurOne of two projects raised in May 1960 and focused on Arunachal Pradesh. Formerly designated Project Tusker. Undertakes China Study Group roads.5UdayakDoom DoomaOne of the two older projects was raised in May 1960. Assigned road infrastructure projects in the north-east region of the country.7ArunanakPapum PareVartak was divided into Arunanak. Raised at Naharlagun.Project Arunank- An Overview Border Roads Organisation. pages 9. Archived on 13 June 2021.8SewakDimapurRoad development in the north-east amidst insurgency; roads include the Zunheboto-Aghunato-Kiphire road.9PushpakAizawlRoads in north-east India including Mizoram, Assam and Manipur; NH-39, NH-53.10SetukShillongRaised in 1990 for bridge construction. Restructured in 1994 to assist in other road development projects in the north-east. The project has also been assigned fencing along the India-Bangladesh border.11SwastikGangtokRevived in 2008. Roads in Sikkim.Other states12HirakTanakpurHirak (transl. Black Diamond) are responsible for the NH-16 and roads and bridges in the naxal areas. It has also undertaken work in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.13ShivalikRishikeshRoad infrastructure to the international border.14DeepakShimlaProject Deepak continues to improve roads in Uttarakhand. It keeps open the roads to Char Dhams and Gurudwara Shri Hemkund Sahib.15BrahmankPasighat16ChetakBikanerRaised in 1962 and named after Maharana Pratap's horse Chetak. Roads and development undertaken include the Joshimath-Malari-Rinkin road, Rishikesh-Badrinath road, Tanankpur-Tawaghat road, NH4B, 17B, and naval airfield resurfacing in Maharashtra.17YojakManali (temporary)Inaugurated in 2022, it is tasked to construct tunnels and maintain existing tunnels like the Atal Tunnel, along with building roads in the Manali-Ladakh axisNational-International18DantakSimtokhaInitiated in Bhutan, Dantak now covers adjacent India states. Roads developed include Sherbathang-Nathu La road, Gangtok-Sherbathang road, and Sevoke-Gangtok road.Projects have also included those in Myanmar and Afghanistan (Zaranj).
Yearly summary of roads constructed