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Pre-requisite for development

Young Bites. Dated: 2/19/2018 11:09:49 AM

The road network facilitates the movement of people allowing for social interaction. A high quality road network is essential not only for connecting key urban centres but for improving connectivity of more isolated local communities for whom many public transport options are limited or not available. Roads connect remote communities with the areas where employment options are more concentrated and services and facilities more readily available. Construction of good roads was a must for development and progress of the state and the nation. Delayed road projects not only increased their costs in a big way but also deny the people of benefits. The Border Roads Organization (BRO) develops and maintains road networks in India’s border areas and friendly neighboring countries. It is staffed by officers and troops drawn from the Indian Army’s Corps of Engineers, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Army Service Corps, Military Police and army personnel on extra regimental employment. Officers from the Border Roads Engineering Service and personnel from the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) form the parent cadre of the Border Roads Organization. Currently, the organization maintains operations in twenty-one states, one UT (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), and neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. There can be no doubt that without the efficient and disciplined operational role of GREF the military operations in border areas during peace as well as in times of war will be seriously hampered and a highly disciplined and efficient GREF is absolutely essential for supporting the operational plans and meeting the operational requirements of the Armed Forces. 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. 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. The organization employs laborers locally. No local laborer is deployed in the GREF for more than 179 days at a stretch, thus keeping the nature of their employment casual. The Government has nevertheless made significant efforts to improve the road situation as seen in the increased amounts allocated to the sector over the past few years. Roads are really important despite the fact that Education plays a major role in the country’s economy. To construct the road, it means cutting off education and health cost. So, my suggestion is that, as much as the roads need to be constructed, why we don’t put some money in to constructing the roads, while also considering improving the education and health system. The Urban transport just needs maintenance while some rural side doesn’t even have any kind of transportation means.