The Manali-Leh highway has reopened to the general public after being closed for several months. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) successfully cleared the 427 km road of heavy snow in a remarkable 138 days, allowing for the smooth movement of vehicles. This highway holds great strategic importance as it enables the transportation of armed forces and their essential supplies to the forward areas in the Ladakh region, which shares borders with China and Pakistan. Additionally, it serves as a crucial connection between Ladakh and the rest of India.
According to reports, the BRO has been actively focused on opening all strategic roads and passes earlier than previous years, aiming to minimize closure durations. The 439 km Srinagar route was opened on March 16 after only 68 days, a significant improvement compared to the past when the 11,540 ft Zoji La pass, located 100 km from Srinagar, would remain closed for extended periods. Similarly, the 427 km Manali-Leh road, which includes the Atal Tunnel in Himachal, opened recently after 138 days, earlier than the typical timeframe of May/June.
Furthermore, it has been reported that the 16,561 ft Shinku La pass on the Nimu-Padam-Darcha (NPD) road reopened after 55 days. These early resumptions of traffic on these routes will allow for a more extended duration for the forces to space out their movements, instead of having to rush them within a short period of 3-4 months.
Moreover, the timely opening of these routes will enable the trucking of civilian and fresh supplies, avoiding the need for expensive air freight. It will also provide a more cost-effective travel option for those journeying to Ladakh and guest workers, as opposed to relying solely on flights when road connectivity is hindered due to heavy snowfall.
