BRO to restore its normal strength through modernisation

Gangtok, Aug 7 (UNI) Border Roads Organisation has embarked on a modernisation programme to restore normal manpower, severely depleted in the past few years.

''We are in the process of modernisation in all aspects,'' BRO Director General Lt General K S Rao today said at a press gathering during the inauguration of a bridge at Rangrang, North Sikkim.

With the organisation being highly labour intensive, we would also empower our labourers with skills and change the methodology of Detailed Project Report (DPR) making by using computer technology to save time the DG said.

Informing that the BRO lost 10 per cent of its manpower of 42,000 plus in the past few years, Lt General Rao said the situation was currently being restored to normal strength.

''We have started inducting manpower directly and taking people from the Indian Army,'' he said.

In two to three years, it would attain our strength back, the DG assured.

''Presently, BRO is capable of constructing 1,000 km road per annum and we are increasing our capability to 2,000 km in future,'' he said.

With the upgradation works on NH 31(A) connecting Sevoke in Siliguri to Gangtok in Sikkim, the BRO chief said they would be maintain the highway until NHAI takes up the work.

He also said the BRO, with its vast expertise and manpower, was more interested in developing border areas.

UNI