The BRO functions on the concept of Management by Objectives, the objectives being the achievement of targets each year, as laid down by the Government.  These targets are in  terms of the sequential functional activities required to construct a road, an airfield, a permanent bridge or a building project, as amplified   earlier.  The targets laid down for the BRO for the year 2010-2011 are :-

(a)          Formation                         -          3028.00 Kms

(b)          Surfacing                          -          5481.58 Kms

(c)          Resurfacing                      -          2271.60 Kms

(d)          Permanent Works                -       Rs.2318.69 Crs

(e)          Permanent Bridges              -          6039.04 Mtrs

The BRO is at present constructing approximately  15000 Kms of  roads.  In addition, 20071 Kms of roads including 3760 Kms of National Highways  are under maintenance.  The annual budget of the BRO in 2010-11 is Rs.5620 Crores.

Another major critical activity of the BRO is  winter and summer snow clearance.  This is carried out in high altitude/snow bound areas to keep roads open for traffic during winter as well as open up those roads closed in winter, before the summer sets in.  There are approximately 64 roads of a total length of  2618 kms in J&K, Himachal, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, where the BRO carries out snow clearance.   This is essential, not only to ensure the provision of logistic support for the Army, but also to provide road connectivity to the local population in these far flung areas.    Some of these roads traverse over very high mountain passes, with heights over 16000 feet and a snow precipitation of 3 to 4.5 meters  along these roads with the accumulation   as high as 31 meters at avalanche sites.

Airfields

In addition to its core construction activity of road building, the BRO has surfaced/re-surfaced over 19 Airfields across the length and breadth of country till date. The major projects which were completed last year were the surfacing of the Kargil Airfield and the resurfacing of the airfields at Goa and at Shibpur in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Organisation  has been entrusted with the resurfacing of the airfield at Thoise, which provides the logistic support to the Siachen Glacier. In addition, the BRO has rehabilitated and maintained the airfields at Silcher, Agartala, Teliamura, Jammu, Srinagar and Leh during the 1965 and 1971 operations.

Major Permanent Bridges

Faced with the herculean task of constructing 38000 mtrs of permanent bridges on major rivers in 1994-95, the BRO created  Bridge Construction Companies(BCCs) for construction of  these bridges of various types, spans and configurations departmentally.  Since then there has been a quantum jump in the bridging capability of the  BRO.

(a) So far 406 major permanent bridges of cumulative length 36000 mtrs have been completed both through contract and departmentally.

(b) Out of 102 permanent bridges under various stages of construction today,  64 are being progressed departmentally.

(c) The 255 mtrs long Kaladan bridge in Mizoram   is the longest permanent bridge constructed by the BRO so far.

(d) A compendium of 154 completed bridges from 1966 to 1998 has been prepared.

(e) The total gaps yet to be bridged  through permanent bridging effort is over 23000 mtrs involving approximately   422 bridges.

Building Projects

The Organisation has also diversified into the construction of prestigious building projects. The Paro Airport Building , the India House Complex and Radio Stations in Bhutan, the Military Hospital in Leh, the Army Cantonment in the Tenga Valley in Arunachal Pradesh, the vast office and accommodation complexes for the Manipur Police and  the Assam  Rifles in Manipur and the construction of several Public Schools are examples of some of the accommodation projects executed  by the BRO.  At present, some of the important   building projects being executed by the BRO are :-

(a) The Academic and Science Blocks for the North Eastern Regional Institute  of Science and Technology, a deemed University in Arunachal Pradesh.

(b) The University Complex for the Tezpur University.

(c) Living accommodation for an Assam Rifles Battalion in Manipur.

(d) Guest House cum Hostel Complex in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.  

(e) Married accommodation for its own Project Chief Engineers.

(f) Seven Jawahar Navodaya Vidyolayas in the North East.

Equipment Management

The BRO is an equipment intensive Organisation.  Almost 15 percent of the Annual Budget  of the BRO is utilised  for the procurement, maintenance and  upkeep of equipment. A very responsive and pragmatic equipment management system has been evolved over the years to ensure effective and efficient management of the vast quantum of plant and equipment  spread over thirteen Projects, leading to the timely achievements of targets, without comprising on quality and laid down specifications.  This equipment management system involves  a high degree of standardisation closely inter-linked with modernisation.  An integral repair facility  for the maintenance, repairs and overhaul of the plant and equipment  exists.