Project Dantak

Dantak, also known as Project DANTAK, is an overseas project of the Border Roads Organisation under the Ministry of Defence of India. Project DANTAK was established on 24 April 1961 as a result of an agreement between Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the third king of Bhutan and then Prime Minister of India Jawahar Lal Nehru.[5] Colonel T.V. Jaganathan was appointed as the first Chief Engineer of DANTAK.[6] The project is involved in identifying the most important aspects of connectivity and in spurring the socio-economic development and growth of Bhutan,[7] It is tasked to construct and maintain roads suitable for motorised transportation in Bhutan.[8] and was established under the provision of the Indo-Bhutan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, 1949.[9][10][11]

Dantak
Founded24 April 1961 (1961-04-24)
Country India Bhutan
TypeArmy, Engineering
RoleConstruction and maintenance of infrastructure in Bhutan and adjoining Indian Districts
Size1200+ personnel (Indian Officials)
Part ofIndian Armed Forces, Border Roads Organisation, Ministry of Defence[1]
HeadquartersSimtokha, Thimpu, Bhutan
Motto(s)Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam[2]
AnniversariesBRO Day: 7 May
Raising Day: 24 April
Websitebro.gov.in
Commanders
Director GeneralLt. Gen. Raghu Srinivasan[3]
Chief EngineerBrigadier Jaswinder Singh[4]

Works and involvement

The project also constructs infrastructure in adjoining Indian districts, some of the important ones include Sherbathang–Nathu La road, Gangtok–Sherbathang road and Sevoke–Gangtok road.[12][13]

The medical and education facilities established by DANTAK in outlying areas were the first in those regions. The Takthi Canteen, commonly known as the DANTAK canteen midway between Phuentsholing and Thimphu is a major stop for travelers.[14][15]

The project recruits local workers from Bhutan as well as Indian workers from adjoining districts like Jaigaon, Alipurduar and other parts of Eastern and North-Eastern India under a basic monthly wage. It posts officials from India for the supervision of work.[16]

Controversies and incidents

Tricolour themed reflectors

The Bhutanese Government said that DANTAK has installed Indian tricolour themed raised pavement marker or reflectors on the highway railings. After DANTAK confirmed their presence, those reflectors were immediately replaced. Later, the Chief Engineer of DANTAK stated that no tricolour themed reflectors were sanctioned to be installed and ground labourers had installed those reflectors enthusiastically.[17]

Wangchhu bridge collapse

A 204 metres long bridge in Haa along the Damchu-Haa road[18] collapsed in February 2021, leaving 3 workers dead and 6 missing. The bridge was pending load testing when the incident happened.[19] The bridge was handed over to Project DANTAK by the contractor. Rescue operations were initiated but were soon ceased due to low visibility and risk from the fragile structures.[20][21]

Major works
Works Location Notes
Paro Airport Paro Built in 1968 as an airstrip for on-call helicopter services for the Indian Armed Forces. Now used as an international airport.[22]
Yonphula Airfield Near Trashigang Domestic Airport in Bhutan[23]
Thimphu – Trashigang Highway Thimphu – Trashigang Major Highway in Bhutan[24][25]
Damchu-Chukha Road Damchu-Chukha Major Road in Bhutan[26]
India House Estate Thimpu The Indian Embassy in Bhutan[27]

References
  1. "Other Organisation | Department Of Defence". www.mod.gov.in. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  2. "Border Roads Organisation". www.bro.nic.in. Archived from the original on 21 September 2010.
  3. "Lt General Raghu Srinivasan assumes charge as Border Roads Organisation chief". India Today. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  4. "Project DANTAK completes 60 years in Bhutan". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  5. "Treaty or Perpetual Peace and Friendship". mea.gov.in. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  6. "Project Dantak". INSIGHTSIAS. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  7. "BRO's project DANTAK completes 60 years in Bhutan". ANI News. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  8. "National Assembly of Bhutan". nab.gov.bt. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  9. "Project DANTAK completes 60 years in Bhutan". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  10. Yangchen C Rinzin. "Project DANTAK reports one percent progress a month on projects". Kuensel Online. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  11. "Project Dantak". Drishti IAS. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  12. "India's Border Roads Organisation Completes Strategic Road In Bhutan". NDTV.com. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  13. "Chhukha-Damchhu highway would be operational by the end of 2015". The Bhutanese. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  14. "Dosa is the new entry". The Times of India. 7 December 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  15. "Jalebi, Dosa & Samosa: How 'Dantak' Is Strengthening India's Friendship with Bhutan". The Better India. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  16. "Project Dantak finds almost no local workers to fill in vacancies". The Bhutanese. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  17. "Dantak replaces 'tri-color' reflectors from road safety barriers". The Bhutanese. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  18. "Wangchu bridge collapses: three dead, six missing". Kuensel Online. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  19. "Load Testing of Bridges: Current Practice and Diagnostic Load Testing". Routledge & CRC Press. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  20. "Wangchhu bridge tragedy: An account of an eyewitness". Kuensel Online. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  21. "New Damchu-Haa highway bridge collapses". Kuensel Online. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  22. "Paro Airport: the major air hub linking Bhutan to the outside world". Tibet Travel and Tours - Tibet Vista. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  23. "Project DANTAK completes 60 years in Bhutan". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  24. "Road Classification System in Bhutan" (PDF). Ministry of Works and Human Settlement. 1 June 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 February 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  25. "DANTAK looks at completing Trashigang–Samdrupjongkhar roadwork by 2022". Kuensel Online. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  26. "India's Border Roads Organisation Completes Strategic Road In Bhutan". NDTV.com. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  27. "Indian embassy in Bhutan reflects shades of Tricolour on eve of Independence Day". ANI News. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
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