India

Ladakh fortified further as PM Modi clears Shinku La tunnel

In a major decision that will give the Indian Army access to the strategic Ladakh region throughout the year, the government on Wednesday approved the construction of 4.1-kilometer tunnel under Shinku La, the construction of which will be completed by 2025. 


“The decision to clear the tunnel under Shinkun L:a makes strategic sense as to achieve all-weather connectivity on Manali-Upshi-Leh highway, the government would have to construct some 38 kilometers of tunnels under Baralacha La, Lachulung La and Taglang La, all passes touching heights of over 16000 feet which remained snowed in for at least five months a year,” reported Hindustan Times.

“The Border Roads Organization had made a black top road on Darcha-Padam-Nimu axis in 2019 but the road could not be used in winter months due to heavy snow on 16703 feet high Shinkun La. The road is critical to the defence of Ladakh as it is sheltered from both Pakistani and Chinese long range artillery or missile firing unlike the exposed Srinagar-Drass-Kaksar-Kargil highway near LoC and the Manali-Upshi-Leh highway near the LAC respectively,” it added.

The Darcha-Padam-Nimu route was used by the Indian Army to send arms and ammunition supplies to Eastern Ladakh during the LAC conflict with China in 2020.

PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday cleared the tunnel and the approach roads on both sides at the Cabinet meeting. Since the BRO has already done road cutting and blacktopping of the approaches on both sides to Shinkun La, the government will now only have to complete the 4.1 km underground pass.

IN Bureau

Recent Posts

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visits UAE, thanks leadership for extending support following Pahalgam Terror attack

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri paid a visit to Abu Dhabi, UAE on June 10. His…

8 hours ago

23 injured Indians transferred to Nairobi, post-mortem of 5 Indians completed: Indian Embassy in Qatar

The Indian Embassy in Qatar provided updates on the unfortunate accident which took place in…

9 hours ago

EAM Jaishankar meets European Parliament President Roberta Metsola; discusses trade, strategic partnerships

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola,…

11 hours ago

India stresses free Indo-Pacific, joint action on terror at EAS meet in Malaysia

Secretary (East) P. Kumaran led the Indian delegation at the East Asia Summit (EAS) Senior…

13 hours ago

“Terrorism will eventually come back to haunt you,” says Jaishankar, urges global community to look beyond India-Pakistan lens on Kashmir attack

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, during his visit to Brussels this week, met European…

14 hours ago

Taiwanese NGOs hold 2030 wargame exercise simulating Chinese naval incursion

Three Taiwanese non-governmental organisations participated in a tabletop exercise on Tuesday that simulated dramatic escalations…

15 hours ago