BRO Infrastructure projects in Ladakh

  • October 29, 2022
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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BRO Infrastructure projects in Ladakh

Subject : Environment/National Organisations

Context :Defence minister Rajnath Singh said as he dedicated 75 infrastructure projects built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in Ladakh, to the nation.

Concept :

Strategically important projects

  • The highlight of the event was the onsite inauguration of 120-metre-long Class 70 ShyokSetu on D-S-DBO Road at an altitude 14,000 feet.
  • Other projects inaugurated virtually by Singh include two helipads, one each in Hanle and Thakung, in Eastern Ladakh
  • The BRO’s first carbon-neutral habitat at a height of 19,000 feet for its personnel was also inaugurated at Hanle.
  • On the occasion, Singh also laid the foundation stones of Himank Air Despatch Complex being constructed in Chandigarh and a BRO Museum at Leh.

Carbon Neutral Habitat

  • The habitat will accommodate 57 personnel and provide thermal comfort during extreme weather.
  • It will enable BRO to operate efficiently during winters.
  • It consists of 12 golden “green houses” which will provide home to 57 karmyogis even in sub-zero Himalayan temperatures with Zero carbon emission.
  • These tiny sleek golden sand houses are powered by renewable solar and wind energy that makes Hanle a high tech green hamlet in the golden landscape of
  • These carbon neutral houses have been built under the project Himank of BRO to make UT of Ladakh as the first carbon neutral UT in India.
Climate neutrality refers to the idea of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by balancing those emissions so they are equal (or less than) the emissions that get removed through the planet’s natural absorption; in basic terms it means we reduce our emissions through climate action.

As part of this, UN Climate Change launched Climate Neutral Now back in 2015 in order to encourage stakeholders around the world to work towards net zero emissions and a climate neutral world. This would see a world where global emissions are in balance with what is naturally absorbed in ‘sinks’ such as forests and oceans. While the aim is to have a ‘climate neutral’ world by 2050, Climate Neutral Now focuses on the need to take action now in order to reach that target.

Project Himank

  • Himank, also styled Project Himank, is a project of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in the Ladakh region of northernmost India that started in August 1985.
  • It is known for constructing some of world’s highest motorable roads across the Khardung La, Tanglang La and Chang La passes.
  • It is responsible for constructing and maintaining motorable roads in Ladakh, along the Line of Actual Control.

Border Roads Organisation

  • BRO was conceived and raised in 1960 by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
  • The Border Roads Organisation [BRO] was formed to maintain and develop the Indian remote areas north and northeast situated near the borders.
  • The Border Roads Organisation [BRO] Raising Day is celebrated on May 7.
  • In the beginning, BRO functioned under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
  • Since 2015, it has been managed and is functioning under the Ministry of Defence.
  • It has diversified into a large spectrum of construction and development works comprising airfields, building projects, defence works and tunneling and has endeared itself to the people.
BRO Infrastructure projects in Ladakh Environment National Organisations