The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is nearing the completion of significant infrastructure projects along the China border. These include critical road sections on a new route to Leh aimed at ensuring all-weather connectivity, with completion anticipated in the coming weeks. Operating under the Defence Ministry, the BRO is also advancing projects under the India-China Border Roads (ICBR) programme. This includes efforts to achieve full connectivity to the Lipulekh Pass on the Mansarovar Yatra Road in Uttarakhand, as reported by the Indian Express.
Leh can currently be reached via three routes. One route runs through Srinagar-Zoji La-Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir, while another traverses Manali-Rohtang in Himachal Pradesh. This second route splits at Darcha, offering one path to Leh via Padam and Nimu, and another that crosses several mountain passes, including Baralacha La in Himachal Pradesh and Tanglang La in Ladakh, before reaching Leh.
The BRO is concentrating on completing the Nimu-Padam-Darcha road, with the final 4-kilometre stretch expected to be finished soon. In July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated the Shinkun La Tunnel project, the world's highest at 15,800 feet, with full-scale construction anticipated to begin shortly. The Rs 16.81 billion tunnel will shorten the Manali-Leh route by 60 km and link the uncompleted section of the Nimu-Padam-Darcha road, establishing a third all-weather route.
The BRO is also prioritizing the Leh-Demchok road in eastern Ladakh, with most of the work nearly complete and plans to expand it to a double-lane road. Since 2020, border infrastructure development in Ladakh and the Northeast has accelerated, with the BRO's budget increasing by 30 percent to Rs 6,500 crore this year.
Under the ICBR project's initial phases, the BRO has earmarked four roads totalling 330.95 km in Arunachal Pradesh. Plans are also in place to submit detailed project reports for 14 roads under ICBR phase III, focusing on essential links to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh and other regions.
The BRO is advancing work on the 2.79 km Sungal tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir, aimed at reducing travel time to Rajouri and Poonch. The breakthrough blast for this tunnel, part of National Highway 144A, was completed in May, marking a significant step towards facilitating travel through hilly areas and cutting down the journey time to Rajouri and Poonch.
