"BRO Completes Nimmu-Padam-Darcha Road Linking Ladakh Region, Spanning 298 km"

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) achieved a significant milestone on Tuesday by connecting the strategically crucial all-weather 298-km road from Manali to Leh via Darcha and Nimmu on the Kargil–Leh Highway.

Emphasizing the broader significance of the project, the BRO stated, "Execution of Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road is not just about infrastructure and transportation; it's about bridging the gap between aspirations and opportunities, empowering communities, and committing to a better future for the people of Zanskar Valley."

The newly established Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road serves as the third axis connecting Ladakh to the hinterland, alongside the Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh routes. It holds strategic importance due to its shorter distance compared to the other two axes and its reliance on just one pass—Shinkun La (16,558 feet)—where tunnel construction is set to commence.

Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan, Director General of BRO, highlighted the innovative approach taken during the project, stating, "In January, when the River Zanskar was frozen, we used this to our advantage and moved equipment and personnel along the frozen river to establish additional attack points. This enhanced the progress of work."

The completion of this road link marks a crucial step in enhancing defence preparedness along the Northern Borders and is poised to stimulate economic development in the Zanskar valley.

Amidst nationwide celebrations of Holi, BRO personnel exhibited unwavering dedication by relentlessly cutting through vertical rock faces to connect the final stretch of Niraq gorge in sub-zero temperatures.

HBL