Leh: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor RK Mathur on Friday launched five major road infrastructure development projects from Turtuk, the northernmost village of India.
The projects kicked off toon Friday included preparation of greenfield alignment and upgradation of major single lane roads to double-lane and tunnelling works, an official statement said.
One of the projects launched on Friday is for construction of roads linking Hanuthang-Handanbroke-Zungpal-Turtuk, a 26.6 km long greenfield road planned to provide inter valley connectivity between Hanuthang-Handanbroke (Indus Valley) and Zungpal-Turtuk (Shyok Valley) across the Stakpuchan Range.
This will reduce the travel time between Turtuk from Leh to three and half hours from the present nine hours, doing away with the requirement to cross the treacherous Khardungla pass.
Upgradation of four major single lane roads has also commenced, said the statement.
These include 78 km road from Khalse to Batallik, and 50 kroad from Kargil to Dumgil which will also include construction of a tunnel at Hambotingla to ensure seamless connectivity from Kargil to Batallik. The other projects are a 70 km road from Khalsar to Shyokvia Agham and 31 km road from Tangtse to Lukung.
All these roads are used extensively by travellers to reach various popular tourist destinations such as Nubra Valley, Turtuk village, Shyok, Pangon-Tso lake and Aryan villages of Dah, Garkone Darchik etc.
The ground breaking ceremony was also attended by the Chief Executive Councillor, Leh Tashi Gyalson, Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar and Director General Border Roads Lt Gen Rajeev Chaudhry.
An MoU was signed on September 3, between the Ladakh Administration and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for the projects involving construction and improvement of roads and tunnels.
LG Mathur dedicated the projects to the people of Ladakh and appreciated the work carried out by BRO, specifically in the border areas of Ladakh. He conveyed his gratitude to BRO for creating road infrastructure which is not only supported the Army in its security needs but had given impetus to tourism for socio economic development.
The LG said the BRO is already maintaining 5,000 Km road and would be constructing 1500 km more roads in the near future.
The statement added that construction work on the project will commence soon and once completed, these projects will play a significant role in promoting tourism in the region, enhance operational preparedness of our forces, provide employment to the locals and contribute immensely towards the socio-economic aspirations of the nation and Ladakh region.
