On August 20 2017,The Ministry of Defense has decided to delegate administrative and financial powers to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to overcome delays in the construction of strategic roads along the India-China border.
According to the references between the Chief Engineer and HQ DGBR and also between HQ DGBR and the Ministry, the defence ministry has assigned more administrative and financial powers to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for increase the speed to complete the projects.
Reason for transformational change :-
Since 2015, the BRO is functioning under the control of the Ministry of Defense in road construction to provide connectivity to difficult and remote regions in the border areas of the country. In order to achieve the desired outcomes according to the requirement of the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defense has revised and made some transformation changes in the powers of BRO.
i.A Chief Engineer in the BRO has improved the limit from Rs. 10 crore to Rs. 50 crore` for administrative approval and departmental work.
ii.The Additional Director General Border Roads (ADGBR) had enhanced the powers from Rs. 20 crore to Rs. 75 crore for departmental works.
iii.DGBR had greater powers from Rs. 50 crore to Rs. 100 crore for contractual works and all administrative approvals.
Powers Changes in procuring and hiring the equipments
The Ministry of Defence has improved the powers up to Rs 100 crore from Indigenous equipment costing of Rs 7.5 crore and Imported equipment costing as Rs.3 crore to DGBR in BRO for procure the latest construction machinery of equipment.
- DGBR has full powers for hiring in construction equipment up to three years
ii.In order to Chief Engineers (Project), powers have been enhanced from Rs. 50 lakh to Rs. 5 crore and the period of hiring has been enhanced from 6 months to one year.
| POSTING | OLD DELEGATIONS | NEW DELEGATIONS |
| Chief Engineer | upto Rs. 10 crore | upto Rs. 50 crore |
| ADGBR | upto Rs. 20 crore | upto Rs. 75 crore |
| DGBR | up to Rs. 50 crore | upto Rs. 100 crore |
| Indigenous equipment costing by DGBR | upto Rs 7.5 crore | up to Rs 100 crore |
| Imported equipment costing by DGBR | upto Rs 3 crore | up to Rs 100 crore |
Points to remember
i.The Ministry of Defence in India ((abbreviated as MoD) is charged with co-ordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government relating directly to national security and the Indian armed forces.
ii.The Ministry has the largest budget among the federal departments of India and currently maintains fifth in military expenditure. The Armed Forces (including Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy) and Indian Coast Guard under the Defence Ministry.
i.Minister of Defence – Arun Jaitley
ii.Formed – 1776
iii.Headquarters – Cabinet Secretariat Raisina Hill, New Delh
About Border Roads Organisation (BRO)
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) develops and maintains road networks in India’s border areas and friendly neighbouring countries.
It is staffed by officers and troops drawn from the Indian Army’s Corps of Engineers, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Army Service Corps, Military Police and army personnel on extra regimental employment.
Motto -Shramena Sarvam Sadhya (“Everything is Achievable through Hard Work”]
Formation – 7 May 1960
Headquarters – New Delhi
Director General – Lt. General Suresh Sharma