Will strengthen connectivity in hinterland, LAC
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 7: The Union Ministry of Road, Transport and Highway is shortly expected to give nod to series of development projects in the Union Territory of Ladakh including some strategic ones which will further strengthen road infrastructure up to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in Eastern Ladakh.
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Official sources told the Excelsior that the projects will not only strengthen internal road network in Leh and Kargil districts but also further improve the infrastructure network up to the LAC in Eastern Ladakh where the situation once highly volatile is now normal following agreement reached between India and China.
“The projects running into hundreds of crores submitted to the MORTH by the UT administration of Ladakh are under consideration of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. A formal announcement of their approval is expected shortly after Project Reports and other requisite formalities are completed,” they said.
Asserting that the projects to be approved have been identified and submitted to the Road, Transport and Highways Ministry, sources said they include roads, bridges, tunnels etc including the new ones as well as expansion of the existing works. They will strengthen road network in interior areas of the UT of Ladakh but also near the LAC in Eastern Ladakh.
“The Central Government has been making series of efforts to ensure that entire LAC in Eastern Ladakh is covered by road infrastructure so that the troops can have easier and smooth movement,” the sources said.
The BRO has already been constructing a 298-km road- Nimu-Padam-Darcha road- as the third alternative from Manali to Leh, which is part of further strengthening road network to Ladakh as Srinagar-Leh National Highways gets closed for around three winter months. The BRO has started work on Shinkunla Pass and other areas to expedite work on the project.
The new projects are in addition to the works which have already been undertaken by the MORTH in the UT of Ladakh. However, Ladakh’s challenging terrain, short working season, and ecological sensitivities slightly delay execution of the projects, the sources pointed out.
On January 13 this year, Union Minister of Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari had inaugurated Sonamarg tunnel, which was earlier known as Z-Morh tunnel. Work on Zojila tunnel is on and it will significantly reduce travel time from Srinagar to Leh by 3.5 hours and keep the road open throughout the year.
The UT administration of Ladakh had recently sought Gadkari’s intervention for the early approval and execution of the Key-La tunnel and proposed that the project, along with important bypass roads – Phey-Ranbirpura (31.9 km) and Rinchen Chowk-Saboo Village Junction (17.6 km) – be entrusted to NHIDCL in view of Corporation’s proven expertise and efficiency in executing high-altitude infrastructure projects.
It had also urged the Minister to consider sanctioning the supplementary proposal under CRIF 2024-25, particularly highlighting the urgent need for the construction of a 7×80-metre double-lane bridge over River Shyok (Diskit-Burma) under the Setu Bandhan Scheme and inclusion of new road and bridge projects in the upcoming CRIF 2025-26.
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