India is constructing a new 130-km long road to Daulat Beg Oldi in Ladakh that will be out of China's sight. This will reduce the distance by 79 km and allow for faster movement of weapons and soldiers.
Ladakh Secret Road: India is building a new 130 km long road in Ladakh to Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO). This route will be out of sight of the Chinese army and will reduce the distance from Leh to DBO by 79 km. With the construction of this road, India's strategic access will be strengthened rapidly, and the army will have great convenience in transporting weapons and supplies. Bridges capable of carrying up to 70 tons of weaponry are also being built on this route being constructed by BRO. This road will be completed by 2026.
Why DBO is Strategically Important for India
Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) is India's northernmost military post, located near the Karakoram Pass in Ladakh. This place is just 8 kilometers away from the Line of Actual Control (LAC). DBO has the world's highest airstrip, from where air support can be easily provided to the army. This area is part of Sub-Sector North, which includes sensitive areas such as the Depsang Plains and the Siachen Glacier.
Old Route and Associated Problems
Until now, the only way to reach DBO was the Darbuk-Shyok-DBO (DSDBO) road, which is approximately 255 km long. This road passes very close to the LAC, due to which it remains under the surveillance of the Chinese army. This is why tensions arose in the Galwan Valley in 2020. China felt threatened by the construction of this road.
New Road Route and its Importance
The new road will start from Sasoma and reach DBO via Saser La, Saser Brangsa, and Gapshan. This road will be approximately 130 kilometers long and will be away from Chinese surveillance. Its specialty is that this road will reduce the distance from Leh to DBO from 322 km to 243 km and reduce the travel time from two days to just 11-12 hours.
70-Ton Capacity Bridges and Transportation of Weapons
On this new road, BRO has built 9 large bridges, which were initially prepared according to a capacity of 40 tons. Now they are being upgraded to a capacity of 70 tons. This means that now heavy military equipment like Bofors guns and tanks can easily reach DBO.
Benefits of Direct Connectivity to Siachen
This road starts from Sasoma, which is located near the Siachen base camp. This will provide direct and fast connectivity between Siachen and DBO. Now soldiers and equipment will not have to go via Leh, which will save time and resources.
Challenges of Road Construction and Technical Solutions
Building a road at an altitude of more than 17,000 feet is a difficult task. About 2000 BRO personnel are working on it day and night. Amidst difficult conditions such as lack of oxygen and year-round snowfall, BRO is using modern techniques like geocells, which make the road durable and b.
Tunnel can be built in Saser La
BRO has planned to build an 8-kilometer-long tunnel in Saser La Pass. Its Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared and its work may start by the end of 2024. With the construction of the tunnel, this road will remain open throughout the year and military supplies will never stop.
Details of Projects
This road is being built in two phases:
Project Vijayak: The part from Sasoma to Saser Brangsa, which costs ₹300 crore and is ready.
Project Himank: The part from Saser Brangsa to DBO, which costs ₹200 crore and 70 percent of the work has been completed. Its construction work will be completed by November 2026.
Oxygen Cafe and Health Facilities
BRO has built oxygen cafes for the laborers. These are places where oxygen supply is provided, so that workers can be protected from diseases caused by lack of oxygen. This facility is proving to be very important for personnel working in very high altitude areas.
Importance of New Road in terms of Security
The new road will not only speed up India's deployment in the border areas, but it will also be very important from a strategic point of view for keeping an eye on China's activities and responding to them. This road will not be visible to the Chinese army, due to which the movement of the Indian Army will remain confidential.
Strengthening the security of Siachen and Depsang
The DBO area is near the Siachen Glacier and Depsang Plains. If this area is not under India's control, it may be difficult to defend Siachen. The new road is very important in terms of defending these areas and providing quick supplies.
India's Other Infrastructure Projects
India has rapidly developed infrastructure in border areas:
Nyoma Airbase: A new airbase is being built at an altitude of 13,700 feet which will be ready by October 2025.
Shinku La Tunnel: Will be the world's highest tunnel which will connect Manali to Leh.
Arunachal Frontier Highway: This 1,637-kilometer-long highway will connect 12 districts adjacent to the LAC.
Sela Tunnel: This tunnel in Arunachal will help in rapid deployment of the army.
