The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is on the verge of completing several key infrastructure projects near the China border, promising to significantly enhance connectivity in the region. Among these critical initiatives is the final stretch of the Nimu-Padam-Darcha road, which is expected to be finished within weeks.
This road, part of the BRO’s ongoing efforts, will establish a vital all-weather route to Leh, thus improving accessibility to this strategically important area. In addition to the Nimu-Padam-Darcha road, the BRO is advancing other significant projects under the India-China Border Roads (ICBR) programme. This includes efforts to complete full connectivity to the Lipulekh Pass on the Mansarovar Yatra Road in Uttarakhand. The construction of the Shinkun La Tunnel, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated in July, is also a major focus. Once completed, this tunnel—set to be the world’s highest at 15,800 feet—will shorten the Manali-Leh route by 60 km and link the previously unconnected sections of the Nimu-Padam-Darcha road.
The BRO’s commitment to border infrastructure has intensified since 2020, reflected in a 30 per cent increase in its budget to Rs 6,500 crore for the current fiscal year. Key projects such as the 1,800-km frontier highway in Arunachal Pradesh and the 2.79 km Sungal tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir are progressing well. The Sungal tunnel, which will streamline travel to Rajouri and Poonch, has recently seen a major breakthrough with its excavation. As the BRO gears up to complete these projects, the enhanced infrastructure is expected to bolster strategic mobility and connectivity in India’s border regions.
