Project Chetak: BRO’s Western Border Road Unit Turns 47
Why in the news
A border roads unit covering India’s western desert and plains celebrated its anniversary, drawing attention to its defence role.
Key facts
- Raising Day: 47th, on April 4, 2026, at Bikaner, Rajasthan.
- Founded: 1980; headquarters Bikaner.
- Road network: over 4,000 km.
- Upgrades: many feeder roads are being raised to double-lane National Highway standard for heavy military convoys.
- Ditch Cum Bund (DCB): over 214 km maintained.
| Aspect | Project Chetak |
|---|---|
| Year set up | 1980 |
| Base | Bikaner, Rajasthan |
| Area | Rajasthan, Punjab, northern Gujarat |
| Road length | Over 4,000 km |
| DCB length | 214 km |
Strategic role
- Gives all-weather links so the Army and BSF can move equipment to the International Border in desert heat or monsoon floods.
- DCB is a deep ditch with a high earthen wall; it hinders enemy tanks and also serves as flood control in Punjab plains.
- Connecting remote border villages supports trade, emergency medical access and education.
About the BRO
- BRO: specialised wing of the Ministry of Defence, unlike NHAI which builds civilian highways.
- It works in border areas and in friendly neighbours such as Bhutan and Tajikistan.
- It runs through named projects such as Chetak, Dantak, Himank and Yojak, each with its own region; Chetak covers deserts and plains, Himank high-altitude Ladakh.
Exam angle
- Chetak: western desert and plains; Himank: Ladakh.
- Nodal ministry: Defence.
- DCB: anti-tank barrier and flood control.