India Live News Updates: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has completed the key stretch that will link Manali to Leh through Darcha and Nimmu on the Kargil-Leh Highway.
The road is now the third axis apart from Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh which connects Ladakh to the hinterland, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
The Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road is a strategically key asset because it is not only shorter compared to the other two axes, but crosses only one pass; Shinkun La (16,558 feet).
This means the road will provide all-weather connectivity to the Ladakh region, the ministry and the BRO said.
The connectivity will boost India’s defence preparedness, apart from speeding up economic development in the Zanskar valley.