BRO plans tunnels, passes to ensure all-weather connectivity in eastern Ladakh
The BRO is also aggressively adopting new technologies to accelerate project execution in this high-altitude region, where the working season is restricted to just a few months due to harsh winter conditions.
'Primarily, Ladakh is linked by two national highways – NH 1 and NH 3. We are responsible for NH 3. The Rohtang tunnel has already come up and we are planning on a few tunnels along passes like Baralacha and Tanglang," Col. Deepak Palande, director, works and resources, Project Himank, told PTI here.
BRO's Project Himank was raised for the development of road communication in Ladakh region. It ensures the maintenance of communication and access to strategic areas close to the Line of Actual Control with China.
Col. Palande said the planning of these tunnels is at a 'very advanced stage".
'The alignments are almost approved and the final survey is on. The detailed project report will be made soon," he added.
He said each tunnel will have a different timeline, varying from five to seven years.
The tunnels will help in ensuring all-weather road connectivity to eastern Ladakh, the area under Project Himank, he added.
On strategic importance of the roads in eastern Ladakh, Col. Palande said, 'Every road is important because it helps in movement of defence logistics, personnel, equipment and whatever military resources are required to be deployed during operations. These can be moved easily and it provides the flexibility for planning the military operations." The officer also said construction of several passes, including many high-altitude ones, is also going on.
'We have completed Umling La. Mig La is coming up. Marshimik La has already come up," he said.
Umling La is currently the world's highest motorable pass at a height of 19,024 ft above sea level, which will be succeeded by Mig La at 19,400 ft once completed.
Eight out of 14 highest motorable passes in the world are currently under Project Himank.
'There are other roads and passes across the Ladakh region which we are working on. For every ridge to be crossed, it has to be generally through a pass," the top official said.
Col. Palande said the BRO is not following only the standard practices, it is adopting technology aggressively in its works in this crucial sector.
'For example, we are investing and harvesting technology in terms of pre-cast. The working season is quite limited here, about six months. So, to apply your resources more effectively, pre-cast is helping us," he added. PTI SSG SSG MNB
view comments
First Published:
August 02, 2025, 17:45 IST
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
28 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: Katra-Amritsar Vande Bharat significant milestone for Punjab: Bittu
Union minister of state for railways Ravneet Singh Bittu on Sunday expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for launching a new Vande Bharat Express between Katra and Amritsar. Union minister Jitendra Singh, right, in a Vande Bharat Express train, which was virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at Katra Railway station, in Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. (PTI) Calling it a significant milestone for Punjab, Bittu stated that the new high-speed train will not only facilitate spiritual travel for devotees but will also boost tourism and trade between Katra and Amritsar. He emphasised that the modern and comfortable travel experience offered by the Vande Bharat will benefit passengers travelling to and from the region, including those visiting the valley. 'The passengers boarding from Pathankot, Jalandhar and Beas would also be benefitted,' he added. Highlighting upcoming railway initiatives in Punjab, Bittu announced that several new railway projects will soon commence, including the development of new rail lines, improved connectivity, construction of road over bridges (ROBs) and road under bridges (RUBs), as well as the redevelopment of railway stations. 'Projects already in progress will be expedited and completed swiftly,' he further stated.
Hindustan Times
28 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Union minister, J&K LG, dy CM thank PM Modi for another Vande Bharat train
Union minister Jitendra Singh, Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha and deputy chief minister Surinder Choudhary thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday for sanctioning a Vande Bharat train to link the holy towns of Katra and Amritsar, and said the transport infrastructure, particularly in the railways, has witnessed unprecedented growth in the Union territory over the last 11 years. A security official stands guard outside a Vande Bharat Express train, which was virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at Katra Railway station, in Reasi district on Sunday. (PTI) In Bengaluru, the PM on Sunday flagged off three Vande Bharat Express trains -- from Bengaluru to Belagavi, from Punjab's Amritsar to Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra in Jammu and Kashmir and from Nagpur (Ajni) to Pune. 'This (Katra-Amritsar) is the fourth Vande Bharat Express train gifted to Jammu and Kashmir by PM Modi, who has given top priority to this region ever since taking the reins of the government in 2014.... I do not know if there is any other railway station in the country where four Vande Bharat trains stop,' Singh told reporters on board the newly-launched train. He congratulated the people of Jammu for the new train and said when Modi took over as the PM in 2014, the railway project to connect Kashmir with the rest of the country was almost abandoned. The LG thanked the PM for the Vande Bharat train between Amritsar and Katra. 'Grateful to PM Modi for flagging off Vande Bharat Train between Amritsar to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Station. J&K's transport infrastructure, particularly in railways, has witnessed unprecedented growth under the leadership of PM. New Vande Bharat Train will ensure ease of travel for devotees of Mata Vaishno Devi and spur the growth momentum of the local economy,' he said in a post on X. Referring to the first freight train reaching the Anantnag station in south Kashmir from Punjab on Saturday, Sinha said it marks a significant milestone in the Kashmir valley's transport infrastructure and trade. Addressing the gathering before the flag-off ceremony at the Katra railway station, deputy chief minister Choudhary lauded Modi for making the dream of railway connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of the country a reality. 'We are lucky to witness the dreams that our elders saw getting fulfilled under the leadership of Modi. Our PM and chief minister Omar Abdullah flagged off the first train from Katra to Kashmir (on June 6) -- a historic moment as many were of the opinion that the train could never reach Kashmir, which was infamous for terror activities. But the region has witnessed fast development,' he said. He welcomed the launch of the new Vande Bharat train service between Katra and Amritsar and said it is a proud moment for people as the train is going to connect two revered shrines -- the Vaishno Devi temple and the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Protest will pressurise Centre for statehood restoration: Khera
Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera on Sunday joined the J&K Congress hunger strike in Srinagar and said that the protest was aimed to build pressure on the central government for restoration of statehood. Congress leader Pawan Khera during a chain hunger strike called by the party's Jammu and Kashmir unit, in Srinagar, on Sunday. (PTI) Khera, who is chairman of Congress's media & publicity department, said that they didn't trust the promises made by central leadership. 'We believe in the power of people. We believe in our party's history and its power. Even the British had come under pressure from our party. And in front of the people's power, kings and dictators come crashing down to the ground. This protest will obviously create pressure and they will have to return this right of the 1.4 crore people of Jammu and Kashmir,' he said. As part of its series of protests which started last month on July 19, J&K Congress started a hunger strike from Saturday till August 20 seeking the restoration of statehood. On the launch of the hunger strike, J&K Congress president Tariq Hamid Karra said that this strike was aimed to push the government to listen to the wishes of 1.4 crore people of J&K. 'August 9 coincides with Quit India Movement, which had started in 1942 in the AICC session of Maharashtra on the call of Gandhi ji and keeping that in mind, we have started a hunger strike which will be observed across J&K in all districts till August 20. It is being done so that the emotions and desires of 1.4 crore people of J&K reach this blind and deaf government,' Karra said. On July 17, Lok Sabha leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had written to PM Modi to introduce a bill in the ongoing monsoon session to restore J&K's statehood. The J&K Congress then started its protest campaign on July 19 followed by a demonstration on the first day of the monsoon session in Delhi. On August 5, the party observed a 'black day' in protest against the revocation of J&K's statehood. Khera said that RSS would even consider the protests for freedom from the British futile when people were fighting the British. He said that when the statehood was revoked 5-6 years ago many promises were made. 'We were promised that terrorism will be eradicated, some 5 years ago. Many promises were made on demonetisation. Don't trust their promises. The rulers sitting in Delhi don't know how to run the government. They only know word play. Everyday there is new drama and new 'mann ki baat'. The Prime Minister doesn't know how to run the government,' he said. On why their alliance partner National Conference didn't join the protest, Khera said: 'It is our party's program. It is in our manifesto and we are fulfilling that. And whoever wants to join, the doors are open.' He said that the elected government of the union territory doesn't have enough powers. 'This is an incomplete government. It doesn't have powers. More powers are with LG. In a UT system, there are many compulsions. Efforts are more, compulsions are more, one's hands and feet are tied and still one has to move forward,' he said.
