Upgradation of infrastructure in Ladakh is the top priority of the GoI. Thirty-three months of face-to-face confrontation with Chinese troops have exposed many of our shortcomings at this border, and all-weather road connectivity is the top priority among them. It is a matter of great concern that even after 75 years of independence, we are still not able to get an all-weather road to Ladakh. The GoI has understood the situation well and an alternative Manali-Darcha-Padam-Nimu axis road has been developed that is safe from artillery and missile firing by both China and Pakistan, unlike the other two highways, the exposed Srinagar-Drass-Kaksar-Kargil highway near the LoC and the Manali-Upshi-Leh highway near the LAC. However, the Manali-Dacha-Padam-Nimu road has a bottleneck due to heavy snow at the 16703-foot-high Shinkun La. Keeping in view the army’s requirements, the GoI has rightly approved an Rs. sixteen hundred crore tunnel at Shinkun La, another milestone decision keeping strategic importance in mind. When completed by 2025, this will be a game changer on this front, as the swift all-weather movement of the army and heavy equipment will be possible. Faster deployment of forces and equipment if a situation flares up in the Kargil-Siachen sector or Eastern Ladakh will become much easier with this tunnel. It will also boost all weather development work at Ladakh as many works get delayed due to the lack of material and machinery. If civilians are allowed to use the same road, it will open a new chapter in their lives. As of now, only air is a viable transport medium during the winter months, and the problem is exacerbated by exorbitant airfares beyond the reach of the common man. With one decision, GoI has changed all dynamics, and all this is possible due to a continuous thought process, planning, and decisive decision-making.
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