Project DANTAK of the Border Roads Organisation marked its 66th Raising Day on 24 April 2026 at Thimphu, Bhutan. The occasion brought into light 65 years of service in Bhutan since the project was established in April 1961. It also underlined the long-standing India-Bhutan partnership built through strategic infrastructure development, connectivity and people-centric assistance.
Legacy Of Infrastructure Development
Project DANTAK began with the construction of Bhutan’s first motorable road and later expanded into a major builder of national infrastructure. Over the decades, it has constructed more than 1,500 km of roads in Bhutan. Its work includes the strategically important East-West Highway connecting Trashigang to Thimphu, the Phuentsholing-Thimphu Highway, and the Paro International Airport and Yongphula Airport.
Role In Socio-Economic Transformation
The project has contributed to Bhutan’s development beyond roads and airports. Its work covers bridges, hydropower infrastructure, telecommunications networks, hospitals, schools and other institutional facilities. These projects have supported mobility, trade, public services and regional integration, while also aiding Bhutan’s broader socio-economic transformation.
Modernisation And Connectivity Upgrades
In recent years, Project DANTAK has focused on upgrading key road corridors and improving resilience. Major works include double laning of the Confluence-Haa road and the Samdrup Jongkhar-Trashigang highway. It has also restored connectivity quickly after landslides and road washouts, showing operational efficiency during natural calamities. Current works include road upgradation in Nganglam-Dewathang, Samrang-Jomotsangkha and Khotakpa-Tshobaley, along with bridge construction and alternate alignments in the Damchu-Chhukha axis and Panbang-Nganglam and Dewathang-Samdrupcholing regions.
India-Bhutan Partnership Dimension
The Raising Day celebrations included an inter-school quiz, felicitation of personnel and tribute to those who died in service. The event reaffirmed the strategic and developmental partnership between India and Bhutan. Project DANTAK continues to align its work with Bhutan’s development priorities and environmental sensitivities, strengthening bilateral cooperation through infrastructure and shared progress.
Last Modified: April 25, 2026