Jammu: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) will construct an airfield at an estimated cost of Rs 218 crore at the strategic Nyoma belt of eastern Ladakh, officials said on Wednesday.
The strategic area already has an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) which was extensively used by the Armed Forces to carry personnel and materials during crises.
The Nyoma ALG has been used for the transportation of men and materials during the ongoing stand-off with China since 2020 and witnessed operations of Chinook heavy-lift choppers and the C-130J special operations aircraft, a senior official who was privy to the operations said.
Sources said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will lay the foundation stone for the airfield on September 12 through videoconferencing.
"The defence minister will carry out e-shilanyash of the Nyoma airfield in Ladakh on September 12," a Defence PRO said.
The airfield will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 218 crore for wide-ranging strategic air assets, he said.
"The construction of this airfield will tremendously boost the air infrastructure in Ladakh and augment the IAF's (Indian Air Force) capability along our northern borders," he added.
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#BROInNationBuilding#90InfrastructureProjects@BROindia has recently completed 11 infrastructure projects in Jammu and Kashmir at a cost of Rs 162 Cr.
— 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (@BROindia) September 6, 2023 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
90 Projects including these will be dedicated to the Nation by Hon'ble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh on 12 Sep 23 from… pic.twitter.com/EO5C0DEbAA
">#BROInNationBuilding#90InfrastructureProjects@BROindia has recently completed 11 infrastructure projects in Jammu and Kashmir at a cost of Rs 162 Cr.
— 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (@BROindia) September 6, 2023
90 Projects including these will be dedicated to the Nation by Hon'ble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh on 12 Sep 23 from… pic.twitter.com/EO5C0DEbAA#BROInNationBuilding#90InfrastructureProjects@BROindia has recently completed 11 infrastructure projects in Jammu and Kashmir at a cost of Rs 162 Cr.
— 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (@BROindia) September 6, 2023
90 Projects including these will be dedicated to the Nation by Hon'ble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh on 12 Sep 23 from… pic.twitter.com/EO5C0DEbAA
Singh will also inaugurate and dedicate to the nation 90 infrastructure projects constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) worth Rs 2,941 crore.
Located at a height of 13,400 feet, Nyoma is about 46 kilometres from the Line of Actual Control with China.
Singh will also inaugurate the reconstructed and revamped Bagdogra and Barrackpore airfields in West Bengal on September 12, the PRO said.
These airfields have been successfully reconstructed by the BRO at a cost of Rs 529 crore, he added.
"These airfields will not only improve the defensive and offensive architecture of the Indian Air Force along the northern borders but also facilitate commercial flight operations in the region," he said.
The BRO is a road construction executive force in India that supports Indian Armed Forces. It develops and maintains road networks in India's border areas and friendly neighboring countries, according to its website.
It boasts of infrastructure operations in 19 states and three union territories (including Andaman and Nicobar Islands) and neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Tajikistan and Sri Lanka. (with PTI inputs)