Border infra projects top priority, work on 3rd route to Leh in full swing

  • September 2, 2024
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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Border infra projects top priority, work on 3rd route to Leh in full swing

Sub: Geo

Sec: Indian Mapping

Context:

  • The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is focusing on completing full connectivity to the Lipulekh Pass on the Mansarovar Yatra Road in Uttarakhand.
  • The current routes to Leh include Srinagar-ZojiLa-Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir, and two routes through Manali-Rohtang in Himachal Pradesh. None of these routes currently offer all-weather connectivity.

India–China Border Roads (ICBR):

  • The India–China Border Roads (ICBR) project is a Government of India initiative aimed at developing strategic infrastructure along the Sino-Indian border, including roads, bridges, and tunnels.
  • The project primarily responds to Chinese infrastructure development along the India-China borderlands.

Project Phases:

  • ICBR-I (Phase-I): Approved in 2005, includes 73 roads covering 3,323 km (2,065 mi).
  • ICBR-II (Phase-II): Approved in 2020, includes an additional 104 roads spanning more than 6,700 km (4,200 mi).
Place/Road NameConnecting Locations and Additional Details
1. Srinagar-ZojiLa-Kargil Road
  • Connects Srinagar – ZojiLa – Kargil – Leh. One of the traditional routes to Leh, not all-weather.
2. Manali-Rohtang Road
  • Connects Manali – Rohtang. Road splits at Darcha, leading to Leh via Padam and Nimu, or via Baralacha La and Tanglang La.
3. Nimu-Padam-Darcha Road
  • Connects Nimu – Padam – Darcha. Currently completing a 4-km uncut portion, with most of the road already blacktopped.
4. Shinku La Tunnel
  • Connects Manali – Darcha – Padam – Nimu. The tunnel will be the world’s highest at 15,800 feet and will reduce the distance between Manali and Leh by 60 km.
5. Leh-Demchok Road
  • Connects Leh – Demchok via Karu and Nyoma. A priority project with much of the construction work completed, aiming for double-lane roads.
6. Durbuk-Nyoma Road
  • Connects Durbuk – Nyoma via Chushul, south of Pangong Tso lake.
7. Durbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DS-DBO) Road
  • Connects Durbuk – Shyok – Daulat Beg Oldie. The existing 255 km long road runs parallel to the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
8. Chushul-Lukung-Thakung Road
  • Connects Chushul – Lukung – Thakung. A critical link road to the LAC in eastern Ladakh under ICBR Phase III.
9. Gapshan-DS-DBO Road
  • Connects Gapshan – DS-DBO Road. Part of ICBR Phase III development.
10. Tuting-Murbo-Bane Road
  • Connects Tuting – Murbo – Bane. Located in Arunachal Pradesh, part of the ICBR project.
11. Bishing-Tinali Road
  • Connects Bishing – Tinali. Another critical road in Arunachal Pradesh under ICBR.
12. Frontier Highway
  • Runs along the nearly 1,800-km-long frontier in Arunachal Pradesh. A key priority for BRO.
13. Akhnoor-Poonch National Highway
  • Connects Akhnoor – Poonch. Includes the construction of the 2.79 km long Sungal tunnel.
14. Lipulekh Pass
  • Located on the Mansarovar Yatra Road (Uttarakhand). Part of the India-Nepal-China border.

Source: IE

Border infra projects top priority Geography