Jitendra Prasad, VSM, Additional Director General of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), outlined the future roadmap for infrastructure development in the Northeast while addressing a special session at the Infra Build Northeast Conference 2026 held in Guwahati on Wednesday.
Drawing from 36 years of experience with the BRO, particularly in remote and strategically important regions, he shared insights into the challenges and opportunities involved in building roads in difficult terrain across the Northeast.
Prasad said infrastructure projects in the region continue to face challenges related to the quality of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), quality assurance during execution and long-term maintenance after construction. He emphasized that addressing these issues is essential for ensuring durable and sustainable infrastructure.
Highlighting technological advancements, he said modern road projects are increasingly adopting LiDAR and drone-based surveys, artificial intelligence, digital twins for project management, mechanised and automated construction equipment, next-generation pavement materials and precast modular construction technologies. He also referred to the use of specialized technologies such as Rejupave biofuel-based materials for cold-climate and high-altitude regions.
He noted that delays in utility shifting, extreme monsoon conditions and short working seasons often hinder project execution in the Northeast, leading to recurring disruptions. According to him, close coordination among all stakeholders is necessary to overcome such challenges and ensure timely completion of projects.
Speaking about future priorities, Prasad stressed the importance of enhancing connectivity in strategic border areas, developing alternative transport corridors, constructing bypasses around towns and cities and improving access to major tourism destinations. He also pointed to emerging opportunities, including high-speed economic corridors, road links with ASEAN countries and the construction of new bridges over the Brahmaputra and other major rivers.
In his concluding remarks, Prasad said infrastructure development should not only connect remote villages and border regions but also strengthen national security, accelerate economic growth and create opportunities for people. He added that such projects would help connect aspirations with opportunities, the Northeast with the rest of India and India with the world, contributing to the vision of a developed India by 2047.
The conference was organised by Indian Infrastructure and brought together policymakers, industry leaders and experts to discuss the future of infrastructure development in the Northeast.
