Amid the long military confrontation between India and China, the Indian Government has approved the construction of the strategically-crucial 4.1-km tunnel under the forbidding Shinkun La, on the border of the country between Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, for ‘alternate’ all-weather connectivity to Ladakh.

The new all-weather connectivity will be directly from the Manali axis through a 298-km NHDL (national highway double lane) to to western Ladakh and Zanskar Valley, directly from the Manali axis through a 298-km NHDL (national highway double lane).

The road that will be ready by 2026, which will hugely reduce the travel time as compared to the time taken on the existing routes passing through Zoji La from Srinagar.

According to media sources one of the main reasons for going ahead with the shorter tunnel was the early completion of the project in face of the threat from China. Though the BRO had laid the bituminous layer on the Darcha-Padam-Nimu axis in 2019, the road could not be used in winter months due to the heavy snow at Shinkun La.

Now the traffic movement in the twin-tube tunnel, which will not be vulnerable to long-range artillery shelling or missile firings either by China or Pakistan, at an altitude of over 16,500-feet on the Manali-Darcha-Padam-Nimu axis will ensure troops and heavy weaponry can be swiftly moved to forward areas.

Source: TimesofIndia