India laying new road between Ladakh and Darcha in Himachal

India is expediting work on a strategic road linking Darcha in Himachal Pradesh with Ladakh. The road will criss cross a number of high-altitude snow-bound passes.

Nearly 290-km-long road will be for movement of the troops and heavy weaponry into the frontier bases of the Ladakh region. It will provide a crucial link to the Kargil region.

However now it will be the third road link to Ladakh after the other two roads-the Manali-Leh road and Srinagar-Leh highway.

The sources said other road projects are being expedited for movement of troops to various key areas like Daulat Beg Oldie as well as Depsang along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.

The Border Roads Organisation is also working on another crucial road connecting Ladakh with Depsang plains. The road will provide access the Sub-Sector North in Ladakh.

The road in the Finger area in Pangong Tso is considered crucial for India to carry out patrols.

Last month, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the progress of various infrastructure projects that are under construction in border areas including in Ladakh region at a high-level meeting.

In the meeting, he had instructed the Border Roads Organisation to expedite work on the road linking Darcha with Ladakh, the sources said.