Brief History

• After nationalization of coal fields in Bihar (now Jharkhand State) Project Hirak was raised on 15 Feb 1980 for speedy construction of link roads in coal field area of Dhanbad, in the jurisdiction of Bharat Coking Coal Limited. Hirak was authorized with full strength Project wef 01 Apr 1995 and was functioning with three Task Forces under its command. However, wef 01 Apr 1998, authorization of staff was reduced to Special Task Force strength. STF Hirak moved to Nagpur in Apr 1998 to facilitate the socio-economic development of Naxal infested areas for construction of roads and bridges in Gadchiroli and Bhandara Districts of Maharashtra. Further, STF Hirak moved from Nagpur to Champawat during Feb 2011 and took over the entire sector of 761 BRTF/Project Shivalik wef 21 Apr 2011. Consequent upon move of 50 BRTF from Vijyapur (Sampark) to Champawat, STF Hirak moved down from Champawat to Tanakpur in Nov 2012 and 765 BRTF during Nov 2017 moved from Uchathal under (P) Pushpak to Dharchula under Project Hirak. In Mar 2022, STF Hirak has again been given stature of a full fledged project with 47 BRTF and 765 BRTF placed under the Project. Presently Hirak is responsible for development of road infrastructure in Kumaon Region of Uttarakhand State. In Last 43 years Project Hirak has executed Air Field works, Bridge works, Building works, GS/CSG Roads/MHA Roads and Deposit/NH works in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal States and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (UT).

• Project Hirak, with an extremely dedicated and professional appch is undertaking construction of new roads and round the clock maintenance of approximately 400 Km of roads in most difficult and treacherous terrain in Uttarakhand. This includes approximately 100 Kms in High Altitude Areas and air-maintained detachments of Milam, Laspa and Nahardevi on Munsiyari-Bugdiyar-Milam Road. It is also constructing and expanding 275 Km of roads in the challenging terrain with steep hill faces having hard rock and fractured strata. After achieving connectivity on Ghatiabagarh-Lipulekh and Gunji-Kutti-Jollinkong Roads in 2020, project is aiming further widening and improvement of road surface. These axes are critical lifelines for Armed Forces and ITBP troops deployed in the forward areas. During this period, 308 meters of permanent bridges and 860 feet of Bailey Bridges have been constructed in the area of responsibility to ensure 24x7 connectivity to the troops deployed in forward areas. These includes two Bailey Bridges launched by helicopter maintained detachments at Milam and Laspa on Munsiyari-Bugdiyar-Milam Road. Improved connectivity will facilitate in fetching logistics at the faster rate for the defence forces. Connectivity of Pithoragarh-Lipulekh and Gunji-Kutti-Jolingkong axis has proved a morale boosting factor for the troops deployed in the forward areas all along the border. Improved connectivity will also enable faster move of pilgrims on vehicle till Lipulekh Pass, which was earlier done on foot, thereby ensuring increased socio economic development of the area, job opportunities and increase in number of pilgrims to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and Adi Kailash.