GUWAHATI: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) hosted a BRO-IOCL Coordination Meet on Friday to discuss ongoing and future projects in the Northeastern region.
The event was attended by representatives from the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), including Satyendra Sahai, CGM (MCO); Debabrata Bandyopadhyay, GM (IB) WBSO; R.K. Shahab, GM (IB) AODSO, along with senior officials from BRO.
The meet was inaugurated with an opening address by the Additional Director General of Border Roads (East) Harendra Kumar, AVSM, VSM, who emphasized the long-standing association between BRO and IOCL, stating that both organizations play a vital role in nation-building.
He highlighted BRO’s role as the primary road construction agency in the most remote and strategic parts of India, with IOCL providing crucial support in the form of primary oil products, bitumen, and lubricants.
In his address, Kumar noted that IOCL supplies 70-80% of BRO’s requirements for primary oil products and bitumen, playing a key role in the timely completion of critical road infrastructure in the Northeastern region.
Last year alone, IOCL supplied over 84% of the High-Speed Diesel (HSD) required for the projects in the region and over 51% of the bitumen products.
For the current year, BRO projects in the Northeast are expected to require approximately 33,327.64 KL of primary oil products and 11,572.39 KL of bitumen, with IOCL providing a significant share of these requirements.
Despite logistical challenges, particularly during the monsoon season when delivery to remote sites is hindered by limited road access, both BRO and IOCL are committed to improving supply lines and overcoming these obstacles.
The purpose of the coordination meet was to strengthen the collaboration between the two organizations, address any pending issues, and chart out future plans for uninterrupted project execution.
Special emphasis was placed on resolving supply chain challenges, particularly regarding the deployment of smaller Bulk Petroleum Lorries (BPLs) to reach remote areas.
The ADGBR (East) concluded the address by encouraging all participants to engage in constructive discussions aimed at ensuring the smooth execution of projects in the region.
ALSO READ: Assam CM welcomes GST Council’s cancer drug tax reduction
The collaboration between BRO and IOCL continues to be a cornerstone in ensuring connectivity and infrastructure development in the Northeastern states.
The meeting concluded with a positive outlook for future projects and stronger cooperation between BRO and IOCL.