State to raise battalions on BRO lines

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has decided to raise its own battalions to provide security during construction of vital roads and bridges in the Maoist-hit districts. The Government had approached the Centre for entrusting the construction of roads and bridges in the Maoist-affected areas to Border Road Organisation (BRO). But there has been no headway. The Government would raise two battalions on the lines of the BRO in the first phase. Official sources said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has accepted the State Government’s proposal in this regard and agreed to contribute ` 20 crore for each battalion to be raised by it.