The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) recently achieved a significant milestone by completing the connectivity of the crucial 298-kilometer Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road in Ladakh. This road, which links Manali to Leh through Darcha and Nimmu on the Kargil-Leh Highway, now stands as the third vital axis alongside the Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh routes, as highlighted by the Ministry of Defence in a recent statement.
The strategic importance of the Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road stems from its shorter distance compared to the other two axes, as well as its passage through only one major pass, the Shinkun La, standing at an altitude of 16,558 feet. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is set to commence tunnel work on this pass, ensuring all-weather connectivity to the Ladakh region, as stated by the ministry.
This enhanced connectivity not only bolsters defense preparedness but also promises to catalyze economic development in the Zanskar valley, according to ministry sources. Lieutenant General Raghu Srinivasan, Director-General of Border Roads, noted the timely completion of establishing connectivity in January, leveraging the frozen River Zanskar to mobilize equipment and personnel. He expressed confidence in the imminent commencement of blacktopping work on the road.
The initiation of construction on the Shinkun La tunnel heralds the establishment of the third all-weather axis to Ladakh, further solidifying the region's connectivity and accessibility, Lieutenant General Srinivasan emphasized.
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