Punjab’s first Technical Advisor to the State passes away

Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ May 31,2026

Lieutenant General B.S. Dhaliwal, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd.), a highly decorated Army officer, visionary military engineer, and former Technical Advisor to the Government of Punjab, passed away on May 30, 2026, in Chandigarh.

He was cremated with full military honours on Sunday. He is survived by his wife, Jasbir Kaur, and two daughters, Divas and Arveen.

Lieutenant General Dhaliwal was appointed as the first Technical Advisor to the Government of Punjab on January 1, 2007, by the then Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal. In this role, he provided technical guidance and oversaw the functioning of the Public Works Department as well as the Roads and Bridges Department. He served in this position until December 31, 2018.

A recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM), Lieutenant General Dhaliwal enjoyed a distinguished military career spanning more than four decades in the Indian Army’s Corps of Engineers. Throughout his service, he held several key appointments and made significant contributions to military infrastructure development, engineering excellence, and organisational transformation.

During his illustrious career, he was closely associated with major establishments of the Military Engineering Service (MES) and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), both of which play vital roles in strengthening India’s defence infrastructure.

He also served as Engineer-in-Chief of the Indian Army and was widely regarded as one of the most dynamic and forward-looking leaders to have held the appointment.

In 2011, he became the first Indian to win the “Engineer of the Year Award” from the Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and the Pacific (FEIAP) in Singapore. This recognition placed him among distinguished engineering leaders of the Asia-Pacific region. He was also honoured with the Golden Peacock Award for Ecological Innovation in 2007, reflecting his commitment to sustainable and innovative engineering practices.

The Indian Army’s Corps of Engineers and the Bengal Sappers fraternity have expressed deep sorrow over his demise and paid tribute to his exemplary service, leadership, and lasting contributions to the nation.