Introduction

          The Border Roads Development Board was set up in March, 1960, to coordinate the development of road communications in the Border Areas of the country, as inadequate communication facilities were seriously hampering defence preparedness and economic development of these border areas. The Board has financial and other powers of a Department of Government and functions under the overall directions and control of Chairman of BRDB .  All sanctions of the Board are processed by the secretariat of the Board which has been given ex-officio secretariat status in the Ministry of shipping, Road Transport & Highways that provides funds .

Composition

·         Pt  Jawahar Lal Nehru was the first Chairman of BRDB and Defence Minister was the Deputy Chairman of the Board at that time.

·         At present Shri M.M.Pallam Raju, Minister of State for Defence is the Chairman of the Board.

·         Shri Subhash Sharma is the Present Secretary, BRDB, at Room No.418, 'B' Wing Sena Bhawan, New Delhi.

·         Mr CN Ganjoo, Director, Dr Alind Rastogi, Director and Mr Manmohan Pipil and Mr RP Shukla are Under Secretaries. There are three Section Officers in the Secretariate.

Functions of BRDB

·         To lay down policy, performance and priorities for development of road communication in Border Areas.

·         Approves the annual works and procurement plan of BRO.

·         Arrange necessary funds for execution of works in consultation with Ministry of Defence (Finance).

·         To keep a watch on progress of work and for review progress of work.

·         Approve establishment of BRO.

Budget

·         BRDB budget is a non plan budget and finalized in consultation with Financial Advisor (Defence Services) and incorporated by Ministry of Finance in the non plan budget of Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways.

·         A Budget of Rs 3000 Crore has been approved by Ministry of Finance for 2010-11 for execution of works by BRO.

·         In addition Rs 3021 Crore has been alloted by different agencies for execution of works as Agency Works.

Execution of work

·         Works are executed by BRO which is a self-sustained agency with its own manpower and equipments, arrangement for maintenance of the construction equipment, medical, postal, supply and communication cover for the personnel.

·         Works are carried out departmentally by BRO under Director General Border Roads who is Technical Advisor to BRDB.

·         There are 17 Projects in BRO manned by Army and GREF officials.

·         BRO has been authorised to outsource the works in all projects for better efficiency.