Project Udayak
{{Short description|Military engineering project}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Udayak
| image =
| country = {{IND}}
| type = Army, Engineering
| role = Construction and maintenance of infrastructure in Eastern Arunachal Pradesh, focusing in development of ICBRs and the Bharatmala project.
| garrison = Doomdooma, Assam, India
| garrison_label = Headquarters
| motto = Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam
| anniversaries = BRO Day: 7 May ; Raising Day: 1 June
| website = [https://bro.gov.in https://bro.gov.in]
| commander1 = Lieutenant general
| commander1_label = Director General
| commander2_label = Chief Engineer
| start_date = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1990|06|01}}
}}
Udayak, also known as Project UDAYAK is a project of the Border Roads Organisation under the Ministry of Defence of India. It was established on 1 June 1990 by separating two task forces from Project Vartak and Project Sewak. The project was tasked with taking on road and other construction work in the eastern districts of Arunachal Pradesh. The project mainly focuses on the construction and development of IndiaβChina Border Roads and inter-valley connectivity in eastern Aruanchal Pradesh. The project plays a vital role in the Arunachal Pradesh package of the SARDP-NE project and the Bharatmala project. Apart from these, the project also contributes in the social development of the people in the region.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-22 |title=The Udayak Saga |url=https://bro.gov.in/WriteReadData/linkimages/7569300424-12.pdf |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=Border Roads Organisation |archive-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323053208/https://bro.gov.in/WriteReadData/linkimages/7569300424-12.pdf |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for Development of Road Network in the North Eastern States |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=92040 |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=pib.gov.in}}
History
In the 1980s, Project Vartak consisted of five Border Roads Task forces (BRTF) while Project Sewak had 4 BRTFs. To improve command and control of the units, a new project was sanctioned by the government on 23 May 1989 after which Udayak was established on 1 June 1990. The headquarters was chosen to be Doomdooma in the Tinsukia district of Assam. The project was established in a period of heightened civil unrest and insurgency in North-east India. The 48 BRTF was stationed in Kimin while 752 BRTF was stationed in Kohima before their induction in Project Udayak. Colonel P.K. Chowdhury was appointed as the first chief engineer of the project.
Command Structure
File:The city centre of Tezu.jpg
The project is mainly divided into 48th task force currently stationed near Tezu in Lohit district and the 752nd task force in Roing, Lower Dibang Valley district. Both of these task forces include numerous companies which in turn include platoons and detachments. The task forces are headed by a commander while the companies are headed by an officer commanding.{{Cite web |title=Border Roads Task Force {{!}} District Lohit, Government of Arunachal Pradesh {{!}} India |url=https://lohit.nic.in/divisions/border-roads-task-force/ |access-date=2024-03-23 |language=en-US |archive-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323053303/https://lohit.nic.in/divisions/border-roads-task-force/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=eProcurement System Government of India |url=https://eprocure.gov.in/eprocure/app?component=$DirectLink&page=FrontEndViewTender&service=direct&sp=SAQl1vpDxD13mfmLNYYAyMA== |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=eprocure.gov.in |archive-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323053318/https://eprocure.gov.in/eprocure/app?component=$DirectLink&page=FrontEndViewTender&service=direct&sp=SAQl1vpDxD13mfmLNYYAyMA== |url-status=live }}
Works and involvements
Udayak maintains more than {{convert|2100|km|mi}} of roads and numerous bridge infrastructure across the tough terrain of Eastern Arunachal Pradesh and some parts of Assam and Nagaland which include national highways, general staff roads which are in line with defence requirements and India-China border roads. The 48 BRTF undertakes road and bridge infrastructure works in the Lohit, Namsai, Anjaw and part of Lower Dibang districts of Arunachal Pradesh while the 752 BRTF undertakes works in Lower Dibang Valley, Dibang Valley district, Tirap and Changlang. Many of its units are air maintained by the Army Aviation Corps and Indian Air Force due to difficult terrain.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-22 |title=Udayak |url=http://www.bro.gov.in/indexmain.asp?lang=1&projectid=34 |url-status=dead |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=Border Roads Organisation |archive-date=24 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724064035/http://www.bro.gov.in/indexmain.asp?lang=1&projectid=34 }}
The project has played a major role in the development of the National Highway 15 and Dibrugarh Airport. It has also constructed buildings for Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Tissa of Longding district of Arunachal Pradesh and Chare of Tuensang district of Nagaland.
In 2010, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India found financial misappropriations and wasteful expenses in the proceedings of the project which was later notified to the Ministry of Defence.{{Cite web |date=2010 |title=CHAPTER V : BORDER ROADS ORGANISATION |url=https://cag.gov.in/uploads/download_audit_report/2010/Union_Compliance_Defence_Army_Ordnance_Factories_12_2010_chap5.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=Comptroller and Auditor General of India |archive-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323053212/https://cag.gov.in/uploads/download_audit_report/2010/Union_Compliance_Defence_Army_Ordnance_Factories_12_2010_chap5.pdf }}
The project also inaugurated the {{convert|720|m|mi}} Digaru bridge in the year 2012 connecting the Lohit district to the Lower Dibang valley district of Arunachal Pradesh which facilitates easy movement of locals as well as troops in the region.{{Cite news |date=2012-04-12 |title=Arunachal bridge linking two districts inaugurated |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/arunachal-bridge-linking-two-districts-inaugurated/articleshow/12629189.cms |access-date=2024-03-22 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=10 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410010452/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Arunachal-bridge-linking-two-districts-inaugurated/articleshow/12629189.cms |url-status=live }}
In April 2018, a bridge collapsed in the Hayuliang-Changwanti road due to heavy rainfall cutting off numerous villages including the border town of Kibithu. Restoration work was initiated in collaboration with the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). Later in September the same year, a new steel bridge was constructed in the route by the project.{{Cite web |date=2018-09-30 |title=Bridge on strategic road inaugurated {{!}} The Arunachal Times |url=https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2018/09/30/bridge-on-strategic-road-inaugurated/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |language=en-US |archive-date=5 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205090910/https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2018/09/30/bridge-on-strategic-road-inaugurated/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Kalantri |first=Rishu |date=2018-04-25 |title=Bridge collapse hits troops |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/bridge-collapse-hits-troops/cid/1447298 |access-date=2024-03-22 |archive-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323053245/https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/bridge-collapse-hits-troops/cid/1447298 |url-status=live }}
In 2019, former defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the Diffo bridge over the Diffo river on the Roing β Koronu- Paya road improving connectivity between the Dibang valley and Lohit valley region of Eastern Arunachal Pradesh. Former Director general of Border Roads Organisation Lieutenant Harpal Singh said that the bridge was built under tough conditions like flash floods where numerous workers lost their lives.{{Cite web |date=2019-01-18 |title=Arunachal: Nirmala Sitaraman dedicates Diffo bridge to nation {{!}} Arunachal24 |url=https://arunachal24.in/arunachal-nirmala-sitaraman-dedicates-diffo-bridge-to-nation/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |language=en-US |archive-date=10 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510204748/http://arunachal24.in/arunachal-nirmala-sitaraman-dedicates-diffo-bridge-to-nation/ |url-status=live }}
In 2020, the project completed the {{convert|65|m|mi}} long bridge over the Kramti river on the Changwanti-Walong-Namti route located {{convert|25|km|mi}} from Hawai.{{Cite web |date=2020-03-09 |title=Steel Bridge along Indo-China border opens |url=https://arunachalobserver.org/2020/03/10/steel-bridge-along-indo-china-border-opens/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=Arunachal Observer |language=en-US |archive-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323053212/https://arunachalobserver.org/2020/03/10/steel-bridge-along-indo-china-border-opens/ |url-status=live }}
In 2021, Udayak conducted a free health camp in the Choephelling Tibetan Settlement located in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, which is administered by the Central Tibetan Administration. The former Chief Engineer of Udayak, Vimal Goswami, promised the settlement office that the health camp would continue every week until a new medical facility is established.{{Cite web |title=Choephelling, Miao |url=https://centraltibetanreliefcommittee.net/settlements/tibetan-settlements-in-india/north-east-india/choephelling-miao/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=Central Tibetan Relief Committee |language=en-US |archive-date=8 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208234030/https://centraltibetanreliefcommittee.net/settlements/tibetan-settlements-in-india/north-east-india/choephelling-miao/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2021-04-30 |title=GREF to conduct weekly free health camps {{!}} The Arunachal Times |url=https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2021/04/30/gref-to-conduct-weekly-free-health-camps/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |language=en-US |archive-date=2 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202211556/https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2021/04/30/gref-to-conduct-weekly-free-health-camps/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=yangchen |date=2021-04-26 |title=Sunday Free Medical Camp in Choephelling Miao |url=https://tibet.net/sunday-free-medical-camp-in-choephelling-miao/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=Central Tibetan Administration |language=en-US |archive-date=13 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513002318/https://tibet.net/sunday-free-medical-camp-in-choephelling-miao/ |url-status=live }}
Under an 'exhibition of best practices' organised by the Ministry of Defence, the project in 2022 resurfaced {{convert|1|km|mi}} of the Roing-Koronu-Paya road with shredded plastic in the asphalt concrete road construction process.{{Cite web |title=Department of Defence (DoD) holds Exhibition of Best Practices on Special Campaign 2.0 at Vigyan Bhawan |url=https://pib.gov.in/pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1886157 |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=pib.gov.in |archive-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323053837/https://pib.gov.in/ErrorPage.html?aspxerrorpath=/pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-27 |title=Shredded plastic paves the way on India's borders, BRO carries out trials on roads |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/india-bhutan-use-plastic-to-build-border-roads-9399911.html |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=Moneycontrol |language=en |archive-date=22 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322113204/https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/india-bhutan-use-plastic-to-build-border-roads-9399911.html |url-status=live }}
In May 2023, the project established connectivity to the village of Tapatuwi on the Chaglohagam-Rocham Road. The project already had an air-maintained unit in the village since 2019. The hard rocky strata prevented from establishing road connectivity. The task encountered resistance from the locals and the Arunachal Pradesh Youth Congress (APYC) in 2020 due to non-receipt of land compensation payments and alleged errors in land acquisition. It was later found that the project had sanctioned a payment of INR 24 crores but corruption was seen in the compensation disbursement process by local officials of the Government of Arunachal Pradesh.{{Cite web |date=2020-06-01 |title=APCS officer, another arrested in Anjaw land compensation scam {{!}} The Arunachal Times |url=https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2020/06/01/apcs-officer-another-arrested-in-anjaw-land-compensation-scam/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |language=en-US |archive-date=29 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529132203/https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2020/06/01/apcs-officer-another-arrested-in-anjaw-land-compensation-scam/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2020-08-15 |title=APYC alleges irregularities in land acquisition {{!}} The Arunachal Times |url=https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2020/08/15/apyc-alleges-irregularities-in-land-acquisition/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |language=en-US |archive-date=30 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930065907/https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2020/08/15/apyc-alleges-irregularities-in-land-acquisition/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2023-05-21 |title=Tweet by ππ¨π«πππ« ππ¨πππ¬ ππ«π ππ§π’π¬πππ’π¨π§ |url=https://twitter.com/BROindia/status/1660123110044241920 |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=Twitter |archive-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323053731/https://twitter.com/BROindia/status/1660123110044241920 |url-status=live }}
In August 2023, the project inaugurated a bailey bridge over the 'Tha Nala' located {{convert|24|km|mi}} from Chaglohagam. The 'Tha Nala' was regularly affected by floods after rain which caused issues in the smooth movement of locals and troops through the area. The local mishmi population appreciated the efforts by the project.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-24 |title=Bailey bridge inaugurated in Anjaw district |url=https://arunachalobserver.org/2023/08/25/bailey-bridge-inaugurated-in-anjaw-district/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=Arunachal Observer |language=en-US |archive-date=22 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322163326/https://arunachalobserver.org/2023/08/25/bailey-bridge-inaugurated-in-anjaw-district/ |url-status=live }}