Kargil, Sep 6 (PTI) Project Vijayak of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on Sunday kicked off its 16th Raising Day celebrations with a motorcycle rally from the its memorial here to Sapi La Pass in the Union Territory of Ladakh, an official said.
The rally, comprising 51 participants, was flagged off by retired Colonel V K Oberoi from the Project Vijayak Memorial in Kargil and culminated at Sapi La, located at an altitude of 14,337 feet, the official said.
He said the rally was attended by Deputy General Officer Commanding, 8-Mountain division, Brigadier Sarit Prakash, Chief Engineer, Project Vijayak, Brigadier Rahul Oberoi, Commander, 121 Infantry Brigade, Brigadier Ashish Joshi, besides officers and personnel from the Army, Project Vijayak and civil participants.
Brigadier Oberoi said Project Vijayak was raised on September 21, 2010, following recommendations of the Kargil War Review Committee, with the objective of improving connectivity across Ladakh region, particularly to forward areas and posts.
“The Project Vijayak has made significant contributions towards strengthening road infrastructure in the region. Several roads have been widened and upgraded from single-lane to double-lane standards, while new roads have been constructed to improve connectivity to forward locations,” the chief engineer said.
He said the specifications and standards of National Highways have also been considerably improved, with several tunnel projects currently underway.
Oberoi said as part of the raising day celebrations, Project Vijayak organises motorcycle rallies every year to remember and pay tribute to the personnel who made the supreme sacrifice while serving the nation and developing vital road infrastructure in the challenging Himalayan region.
He said last year’s rally had travelled to the Kargil War Memorial at Drass to honour the bravehearts of the Indian Army and the Border Roads Organisation.
Continuing the tradition this year, the rally travelled approximately 54 kilometres to Sapi La Pass, one of the important passes maintained by Project Vijayak in Western Ladakh and the Siachen sector, he said.
The rally culminated at Sapi La, where the Deputy GOC, 8 Mountain Division hoisted the National Flag.
Oberoi said the flag-hoisting ceremony at Sapi La was a proud occasion and a tribute to the brave personnel who sacrificed their lives in the service of the nation.
The Motorcycle Rally marked the beginning of the celebrations leading up to the 16th raising day of Project Vijayak on September 21, he said. PTI COR TAS TAS MDO MDO
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