BRO creates record, keeps strategically vital Zoji La open in January

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 4

Even as there is no sign of Sino-Indian de-escalation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has created a new record by keeping the formidable Zoji La pass on the Srinagar–Leh National Highway open for vehicular traffic in the first week of January.

The pass, located at an altitude of 11,649 feet about 100 km east of Srinagar, links the Union Territory of Ladakh with the rest of the country, and remains closed in winters due to high snow.

The BRO achieved this feat through its frontline projects – Vijayak and Beacon. They are collectively responsible for maintaining the road axis that has strategic implications in addition to the socio-economic well-being of Ladakh.

Last winters, the pass was kept open till December 31, which was a record. This season, BRO silently embarked on a mission to better its own record by reorganising and adding a few more snow clearance detachments and augmenting them with the state-of-the-art snow clearance equipment, according to an official statement issued today.

Beacon and Vijayak projects have been working round the clock in extreme weather conditions to keep the logistic supply line open to Ladakh. Unprecedented number of troops have been deployed in Ladakh over the past about two years to counter Chinese deployments on the other side of the LAC.

There are two road routes to Ladakh — along the Srinagar axis through Jammu and Kashmir and along the Manali axis through Himachal Pradesh. Both these routes become non-operational during winters as several high mountain passes enroute remain closed due to heavy snow. Supplies, equipment and troops are ferried in and out of Ladakh by air in such a situation, which continues till spring when BRO clears the snow.

The administration of Ladakh and the local populace has lauded the efforts of BRO as this additional window reduces the logistic burden on government agencies and also helps the local inhabitants to stock additional rations and supplies to brave the impending harsh winters.

In the first three days of the year 2022, about 178 vehicles have been able to transit through the pass with the collective assistance of the BRO and the local police personnel.

The number is considered significant because with the temperatures plummeting to minus 20 degree centigrade, the road is subject to extreme frosting with blizzard like conditions, which can lead to accidents. Besides snow clearance, the road axis is subjected to maintenance on a daily basis to keep it road worthy.