Himachal: Shinkula-Zanskar road to open on April 16

Tribune News Service

Dipender Manta

Mandi, April 13

Director General of the Border Roads Organisation Lieutenant General Rajiv Chaudhari will visit Shinkula (16,615 ft) on the Darcha-Shinkula-Padum road in Lahaul and Spiti on April 16. He will flag off vehicles via Shinkula from the Himachal side to the Zanskar valley of the Ladakh.

This road is the alternative to the Ladakh region from Himachal.

The BRO machinery and workforce have reached close to Shinkula from the Darcha and Padum side to restore the pass to the traffic movement. After the restoration of the Manali-Leh highway on March 26, the BRO has shifted its focus on the Darcha-Shinkula-Padum road to connect the Zanskar valley of Ladakh with Lahaul.

According to official sources, the BRO has set April 16 as the date for restoring this road to the traffic movement. The DG BRO will reach Shinkula to flag off vehicles on this road, besides encouraging the BRO soldiers, who are working in adverse conditions to restore the strategically important border roads.

It is expected that DG BRO will discuss with the BRO officials the ongoing project of the construction of tunnel beneath the Shinkula to ensure the road connectivity on this route between Himachal and Ladakh round the year. A 4.5-km long tunnel is proposed beneath the pass for the purpose.

Preparations are underway by the local unit of the BRO in Lahaul and Spiti to greet the DG BRO with full enthusiasm on his arrival at Shinkula. The BRO team is working relentlessly to achieve its target to restore the pass before the set date.

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