Recently, the Diamond Jubilee of Project DANTAK, under the aegis of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), was celebrated with much fanfare in Bhutan. The project is considered one of the oldest initiated by the BRO. While contributing to this landmark project, over 1,200 DANTAK personnel sacrificed their lives in the process of constructing significant infrastructure facilities in Bhutan.
How Project DANTAK Came Into Being
Project DANTAK was established on 24th April 1961 under the visionary leadership of Bhutan’s third King and India’s then Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru. Its principal task was to construct motorable roads and pioneer a new path of development in Bhutan.
Project DANTAK’s Key Accomplishments
Over the years, DANTAK has accomplished significant infrastructural milestones in Bhutan. Road Connectivity is a major achievement, with around 1600 km of blacktopped roads, a network of 120 km tracks, and 5000 meters of bridges constructed during the course of the project.
Apart from roads, DANTAK has also executed several other successful projects, like the construction of Paro Airport, Yonphula Airfield, Thimphu – Trashigang Highway, Telecommunication & Hydro Power Infrastructure, Sherubtse College, Kanglung and India House Estate.
DANTAK, in its journey, also established premier medical and education facilities in remote areas, often being the pioneer in these locations. Additionally, food outlets along the roads were a charm for locals; they introduced the Bhutanese to Indian delicacies and developed a sweet tooth among them.
Indo-Bhutan Relationship within the Project’s Framework
India and Bhutan’s relationship has been marked by the Indo-Bhutan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, 1949, which includes provisions for perpetual peace, free trade, commerce, and equal justice to each other’s citizens. The treaty was renegotiated in 2007 to encourage Bhutan’s sovereignty, eliminating the need for India’s guidance on foreign policy.
The countries have multiple shared multilateral forums like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal), BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), etc.
Benevolent economic partnerships, especially mutual hydro-power cooperation, form the core of this bilateral cooperation. Indian-Bhutan projects such as Mangdechhu, Punatsangchhu-I and II, and Kholongchhu HEP are testimonials to this partnership. It is worth noting that India is Bhutan’s largest trading partner.
About the Border Roads Organisation (BRO)
Raised in 1960 by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the BRO was created to speed up the development of a network of roads in the North and North Eastern border regions of India. Reporting directly to the Ministry of Defence, the organization has diversified into construction and development works, including airfields, building projects, defence works, and tunneling, endearing itself to the people of these regions.
Some Recent Achievements by BRO
In recent times, BRO has achieved milestones like the construction of the Atal Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh, Nechiphu Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, and many others. The Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie Road, which links Leh with the northern border, and the Barsi Bridge on the Manali–Leh highway are among its significant achievements.