Lt Gen R Srinivasan (R) shakes hand with Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in Thimpu, on July 30, 2025. (Photo: BRO)
New Delhi: The director general of Border Roads Organization, Lieutenant General Raghu Srinivasan, is currently on an official visit to Bhutan from July 28 to August 2. His visit is aimed at reinforcing India’s commitment to infrastructure development in the Himalayan kingdom through the BRO’s flagship Project Dantak.
During his visit, Srinivasan was granted an audience by the king of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who commended Project Dantak’s contributions to Bhutan’s infrastructure development.
The DG BRO also met the prime minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay, who acknowledged the project as a cornerstone of India-Bhutan cooperation and thanked India for its continued efforts in developing infrastructure that supports Bhutan’s socio-economic growth.
#BROIndiaBhutanInfrastruture#BROCooperationIndiaBhutan
— ?????? ????? ???????????? (@BROindia) July 30, 2025
Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan, PVSM, VSM, DGBR is on an official visit to friendly nation Bhutan to review @BROindia Project DANTAK.#DGBR was granted audience by His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck & called on… pic.twitter.com/HB0uHPNQxA
Major road upgrade to be inaugurated
A significant highlight of the visit will be the inauguration of the upgraded Confluence-Haa Road on August 1, by Tobgay. This critical stretch from Wanakha to Haa has been upgraded to primary national highway standards by Project Dantak at a cost of ₹254 crore.
The enhanced road features five newly constructed bridges, improved geometry, and enhanced safety measures, ensuring better all-weather connectivity to the scenic Haa valley. The project represents a significant boost to regional development, tourism, and military logistics in the strategically important border region.
Six decades of transformation
Project Dantak has been instrumental in Bhutan’s socio-economic transformation since its inception in 1960. The project’s early achievements include constructing the vital Phuentsholing-Thimphu Highway in the 1960s, which opened up the landlocked kingdom to modern transportation networks.
Over the decades, Project Dantak has delivered critical infrastructure including Paro International Airport, Dewathang Hospital, the India House Estate, SherubtseCollege, and the Bhutan Broadcasting Services Station.
Recent major accomplishments include the Takhti Bridge, modular steel bridges on the Confluence-Haa and Nganglam-Dewathang roads, and upgrades to the Darranga-Trashigang and Khothakpa-Tshobaley roads in eastern Bhutan.
Ongoing strategic projects
Currently, Project Dantak is engaged in constructing and improving several key roads across western and eastern Bhutan. Notable ongoing projects include the Kothakpa-Tshobaley, Nganglam-Panbang, Dewathang-Samdrupcholing, and Samrang-Jomotsangkha roads, all designed to enhance connectivity in remote areas of the kingdom.
These infrastructure projects align with Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness philosophy, focusing on quality, safety, and sustainability while respecting the country’s environmental values and carbon-neutral commitments.
During his visit, Lt Gen Srinivasan is scheduled to inspect key road stretches and infrastructure works across Bhutan, interact with Project Dantak personnel, and hold discussions with senior officials of the Bhutanese government to explore areas of mutual cooperation.
The visit is expected to deepen institutional bonds between Project Dantak and Bhutanese authorities, serving as a catalyst for future infrastructure-development partnerships between the two nations.
