CM Pema Khandu Hails BRO for Restoring 1972 Smriti Chorten
Synopsis
Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu has commended 42 BRTF under BRO's Project Vartak for restoring the 1972 Smriti Chorten on Old Sela Road, with the Monpa community offering prayer flags in a traditional ceremony marking the milestone.
Key Takeaways
CM Pema Khandu publicly praised the Border Roads Organisation on 22 June 2026 for restoring the 1972 Smriti Chorten on the Old Sela Road.
The restoration was executed by 42 Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) under Project Vartak , BRO's nodal project for western Arunachal Pradesh.
The Monpa community of Tawang offered sacred prayer flags after traditional prayers following the restoration, signalling strong local endorsement.
The BRO was established in 1960 and Project Vartak covers strategic infrastructure in the Tawang sector near the Line of Actual Control.
The restoration is part of a broader pattern of BRO community engagement alongside infrastructure development in sensitive border districts of Arunachal Pradesh .
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday, 22 June 2026, praised the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for completing the restoration of the 1972 Smriti Chorten on the Old Sela Road, calling it a tribute to shared history and sacrifice between the BRO and the people of Arunachal Pradesh.
Context
The Smriti Chorten is a memorial structure erected in 1972 on the Old Sela Road, a high-altitude route in the Tawang sector near the Line of Actual Control. The restoration was carried out by 42 Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) under Project Vartak, the BRO project responsible for road and infrastructure works in western Arunachal Pradesh. CM Khandu described the effort as 'more than conservation of a monument,' framing it as an act of remembrance for those who served in the region.
Following the restoration, the Monpa community — the indigenous Buddhist community of the Tawang region — offered sacred prayer flags after conducting traditional prayers. Khandu noted that this gesture 'beautifully reflects the deep respect this restoration has earned' from local communities.
Policy Backdrop
The Border Roads Organisation was established in 1960 to build and maintain strategic roads in India's border regions, with its mandate gaining urgency following the 1962 Sino-Indian conflict. Project Vartak has since been the nodal BRO project for western Arunachal Pradesh, covering critical routes in the Tawang sector.
In 2018, the government sanctioned the Sela Tunnel project to provide all-weather road access to Tawang, bypassing the weather-prone Sela Pass. Heritage restoration initiatives such as this one are part of a broader BRO approach that pairs engineering work with community-facing activities to build goodwill in sensitive border districts.
Stakeholders and Impact
The Monpa community of Tawang holds deep cultural and religious significance for the region, and their participation in the post-restoration ceremony underscores local acceptance of the project. For BRO personnel, the restoration carries institutional significance — the Chorten stands as a marker of the organisation's long presence and sacrifice in the region.
Successive Indian governments have accelerated BRO-led projects in Arunachal Pradesh to strengthen military mobility and civilian access along the border. Heritage conservation efforts layered onto infrastructure projects reflect a wider national emphasis on the Northeast as both a strategic and developmental priority.
What's Next
Attention in the Tawang sector will remain on the completion milestones of the Sela Tunnel and any further BRO announcements on heritage or connectivity works in the area. The Smriti Chorten restoration signals that infrastructure development in the region is increasingly being paired with cultural preservation, a pattern that may shape future BRO community engagement in Arunachal Pradesh.
Point of View
Khandu reinforces the political message that BRO's presence in Tawang enjoys grassroots legitimacy, not merely strategic necessity. This aligns with a broader BJP-led effort to frame Northeast infrastructure investment as nation-building with local roots. The gesture also keeps public attention on the Tawang sector at a time when the Sela Tunnel and other connectivity milestones are approaching.
NationPress
22 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Smriti Chorten on Old Sela Road?
The Smriti Chorten is a memorial structure erected in 1972 on the Old Sela Road in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh, commemorating historical events and the sacrifices of personnel in the region.
Which BRO unit restored the Smriti Chorten?
The restoration was carried out by 42 Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) operating under Project Vartak, the BRO project responsible for road and infrastructure works in western Arunachal Pradesh.
What is Project Vartak?
Project Vartak is a Border Roads Organisation project tasked with constructing and maintaining strategic roads and infrastructure in western Arunachal Pradesh, including routes in the Tawang sector near the Line of Actual Control.
Why did the Monpa community offer prayer flags at the Smriti Chorten?
The Monpa community, the indigenous Buddhist community of Tawang, conducted traditional prayers and offered sacred prayer flags after the restoration as a mark of respect for the monument and the BRO's conservation effort.
What is the significance of the Sela Road for Arunachal Pradesh?
The Sela Road is a strategic high-altitude route linking Tezpur to Tawang through Sela Pass near the Line of Actual Control, and it is a critical corridor for both military mobility and civilian access in the region.
