Shifting of Administrative Control of BRO from MoRTH to MoD

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Defence

12-May-2015 15:37 IST

The BRO has been functioning under the administrative control of Ministry of Defence (MoD).  However, the budget for the BRO was being reflected in the Demands for Grants under from Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) until year 2014-15. 

Vide Gazette Notification dated 9th January, 2015, all matters relating to Border Roads Development Board and Border Roads Organisation have been placed under Ministry of Defence in Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961.  Accordingly, from the financial year 2015-16, the budget of BRO has also been shifted from MoRTH to MoD.

The total authorised strength of BRO personnel is 42598. The number of personnel working presently is 34853.

The effective recruitment in BRO is less due to difficult working conditions and extensive deployment in Border areas.  However, continuous efforts are being made for recruitment through Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission and General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) Centre.  It has also been decided to outsource services of Junior Engineers (Civil) as an interim measure.  

The number of BRO personnel died in harness during last three years and current year, are given below:

In the recent past the Government has approved several proposals to improve the efficiency of BRO.  These include shifting of budget of BRO from MoRTH to MoD, enhanced delegation of financial powers at various executive levels in BRO, and specialist training courses for BRO officers.  In addition, certain welfare related proposals have also been sanctioned in the recent past to improve the service conditions in BRO. 

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Shri Raj Babbar in Rajya Sabha today.