NEW DELHI, July 17, 2026 — Reaffirming the government’s commitment to border security and development, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh declared on Thursday that border villages—long regarded as the “last villages” of India—are now being actively developed as the country’s “first villages” under the Vibrant Village Programme (VVP).
Addressing the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Strategic Infrastructure Conclave in New Delhi, the Defence Minister emphasized that basic infrastructure is just as critical to military operations as state-of-the-art weaponry.
“We have ensured that no citizen residing in a remote area feels cut off from the mainstream,” Rajnath Singh said to an audience of senior military leadership, policymakers, and infrastructure experts. “While the outcome of the war is largely determined by military prowess, precision capabilities, modern technologies, and basic infrastructure is central to enabling military operations.”
Infrastructure as a Frontline Defense
Singh highlighted the undeniable connection between civilian infrastructure and national security. He noted that several border villages in the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, as well as in other northern states, are currently undergoing rapid development under the VVP.
The Defence Minister praised the critical role of those who build these supply lines. “Sometimes, the first front of a war is not at the border itself, but on the road that leads our soldiers to the frontline. The person who builds that road is as vital a guardian of national security as the soldier who stands at the border,” he stated.
He further pointed out that post-independence, the focus placed on infrastructure did not adequately match India’s strategic requirements or its true capabilities. That gap, he noted, is now being aggressively closed.
Praising BRO’s Engineering Milestones
During the conclave, Singh commended the Border Roads Organisation for its dedication to adopting niche technologies in some of the world’s most unforgiving terrains.
He cited landmark achievements like the Atal Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh, the Umling La Pass in Ladakh, and the Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh. These projects, Singh remarked, stand as “living testaments” to the BRO’s capability, hard work, and spirit of service.
To further enhance the BRO’s capabilities, the Defence Minister presented awards for various outstanding projects and launched two new digital platforms aimed at modernizing the organization’s project management and recruitment processes.
The two-day conclave provided a vital platform for stakeholders to deliberate on emerging technologies, sustainable construction practices, and digital transformation in strategic planning to ensure India continues to build world-class infrastructure ready for the challenges of tomorrow.
Published by True Roots Media Network