The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has marked a significant achievement by connecting the strategic Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road in Ladakh on March 25, 2024. Spanning 298 kilometers, this pivotal road links Manali to Leh via Darcha and Nimmu on the Kargil – Leh Highway, serving as the third axis of connectivity to Ladakh alongside the Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh routes.
The Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road stands out for its strategic advantage, being not only shorter compared to the other two axes but also requiring the crossing of just one high-altitude pass, Shinkun La, which stands at 16,558 feet. The commencement of tunnel work at Shinkun La by the BRO is set to further this advantage, promising year-round accessibility to the Ladakh region. This development is a boon for defense preparedness and is expected to catalyze economic growth within the Zanskar valley.
Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan, Director General of Border Roads, highlighted the strategic operation conducted in January when the Zanskar River was frozen. During this time, equipment and personnel were mobilized, enabling the completion of the connectivity project. He expressed confidence that the blacktopping of the road would begin shortly. With the construction of the Shinkun La tunnel underway, the establishment of the third all-weather axis to Ladakh is on the horizon.