Why in the News?
Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Project Swastik celebrated its 65th Raising Day on October 01, 2025.
About Project Swastik:
- Origin: Established in 1960 as Project DRAGON, renamed Project Swastik on 1 October 1963.
- Organisation: A flagship initiative of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under the Ministry of Defence.
- Mandate: Construction and maintenance of strategic roads, bridges, and tunnels in the high-altitude Himalayan terrain.
- Area of Responsibility: Covers North and East Sikkim up to forward border areas, also parts of North Bengal. The region is prone to landslides, fragile geology (Phyllites, Schists), and extreme weather conditions.
- Strategic Role: Provides vital support for Armed Forces mobility, disaster relief operations, and socio-economic connectivity for remote communities.
Major Accomplishments:
- Road & Bridge Network: Built and maintained over 1,412 km of roads and 80 major bridges since inception.
- Recent Achievements: In the last decade, completed 350 km of new roads, 26 bridges, and 1 tunnel, ensuring year-round access to forward areas.
- Key Road Links: Developed lifelines like the Gangtok–Chungthang and Gangtok–Nathula roads, critical for defence and civilian movement.
- Disaster Response: Effectively restored connectivity after Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), cloudbursts, and Teesta River floods. Widely praised during the 2023 Sikkim flash floods.
