"Will be very helpful for upliftment of deprived areas": Uttarakhand CM after Defence Minister inaugurates 9 projects in state

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], October 12 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday expressed his gratitude to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for inaugurating nine Border Roads Organisation (BRO) projects in the state.
The nine projects inaugurated in Uttarakhand include Karcha Bridge, Meeng Gadhera Bridge, Ghastoli Bridge, Pagal Nala Bridge in Garhwal region and Shivalik Project Office and Residence in Dehradun district. Suringghat Bridge, Chimla Bridge, Panagarh Bridge and Gosigarh Bridge.
The Uttarakhand Chief Minister said that these infrastructure projects will be very helpful for the upliftment of state's especially remote and deprived areas.
"These projects will help in changing the landscape of the state by enhancing connectivity and promoting socio-economic development. These will not only boost tourism and the local economy, but will also provide an opportunity to create significant employment opportunities. These projects will accelerate the development of vibrant village communities and improve access to remote border areas, thereby strengthening both economic development and defence capabilities in these strategically important locations," CM Dhami said.
The Chief Minister also asserted that the construction of new bridges will significantly improve connectivity in the state.
"It will reduce travel time. This will promote religious and general tourism as well as cultural exchange and establish Uttarakhand as a major tourist destination. These infrastructure projects will promote long-term sustainable development and prosperity for the region," he added.
Rajnath Singh, today virtually dedicated to the nation 75 infrastructure projects of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) at a cost of Rs 2,236 crore.
These projects - 22 roads, 51 bridges & two others - are spread across 11 States/Union Territories with nineteen (19) are in Jammu & Kashmir, 18 in Arunachal Pradesh, 11 in Ladakh, nine in Uttarakhand, six in Sikkim, five in Himachal Pradesh, two each in West Bengal & Rajasthan and one each in Nagaland, Mizoram and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
In his address, Defence Minister termed the projects as a testament to the Government's unwavering resolve to keep strengthening the border infrastructure and ensuring socio-economic progress of these areas. He added that these projects will go a long way in enhancing the defence preparedness of the country.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Viksit Bharat by 2047' can be realised through such infrastructure projects," he said.
As per the release, with the inauguration of these 75 projects, BRO has completed a total of 111 infrastructure projects in 2024 at an overall cost of Rs 3,751 crore. This includes 36 projects worth Rs 1,508 crore, such as the state-of-the-art Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, inaugurated by the Prime Minister earlier this year. Last year, 125 infrastructure projects of BRO were dedicated to the nation at a cost of Rs 3,611 crore. (ANI)