More powers to BRO to expedite works on Sino-Indian border

The defence ministry has delegated more financial and administrative powers to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in an effort to fast-track the completion of strategic roads near the Sino-Indian border.

The decision is expected to reduce the delay running into several months for administrative approval of BRO projects and contracts.

According to the new defence ministry order, a chief engineer of the BRO can accord administrative approval for projects up to Rs 50 crore, whereas for the additional director general border roads (ADGBR) and director general border roads (DGBR), the new approval limits are Rs 75 crore and Rs 100 crore, respectively.

Since 2015, the BRO is working under the defence ministry to cut down the red tape that often delays the projects by years. Previously, BRO was under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Road Transport, while most of the projects were funded by the defence ministry. The defence ministry has also enhanced the powers of the BRO chief engineer for acceptance of bids with cost of contract up to Rs 100 crore and that of the ADGBR for contracts up to Rs 300 crore.

“With this delegation, the entire tendering process, including acceptance of bids, would be completed at the level of chief engineer or DGBR for a majority of the contracts. The decision was taken a few days ago,” said an official.

The defence ministry has also enhanced the financial power of BRO top brass for granting consultancy services to external agencies and purchasing of equipment.

The DGBR has been given the power to procure indigenous or imported equipment up to Rs 100 crore. He has also been authorised to hire equipment for up to three years for emergent situations.

The main purpose of overhauling the BRO is to accelerate the road construction near the Sino-Indian border as China has rapidly improved its border infrastructure.

Out of the 73 border roads identified by the government, BRO’s responsibility was 61 roads on which progress has been tardy so far.

These 61 roads were to be completed by 2012, but only 15 were completed by that time schedule and another seven roads were readied by March 2016. Earlier this year, the Comptroller and Auditor General questioned the quality of several completed BRO roads, which were found unfit to carry weapons like Smerch rockets, Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher and Bofors artillery guns.