State to be road-linked with Zanskar valley by Sept

Dushyant Singh Pundir

Tribune News Service

Mandi, July 27

For the first time, the state will be connected with the picturesque Zanskar valley in Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir by road in September this year.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was assigned the task to connect the two valleys by road in 2001. Commander, 38 Border Road Task Force, Col KP Rajendra Kumar said their aim was to reach Shinkula top so as to allow 4X4 vehicles to reach Zanskar valley from Manali in a day.

He said they were hoping to reach the Shinkula top by September this year. Due to heavy snow accumulation, some road stretches were damaged and they had already started repair work, he added. He said all nullahs and rivers in Lahaul valley were in full spate that disconnected road communication at many places. He said their main challenge was to restore the road connectivity in the monsoon.

He said they had to keep an excavator ready only to address problems at Madgram and Dharade nullahs. There were several high attitude peaks that form an effective barrier between Lahaul and Ladakh. These two contrasting mountainous regions are connected only through trekking route. Sources said the distance could be reduced to nearly 200 km.

The ancient kingdom of Zanskar is famous for beautiful landscape and several wonderful Buddhist monasteries, notably at Phuktal, Lingshet and Lamayuru enroute.

The road will be connected through Darcha in Lahaul valley. With the completion of this road, it would not only lessen the distance, but also reduce time for the Army to take its supplies to the bordering Kargil district.

Presently, the Army has to take its supplies to Kargil via Sarchu-Leh road. With completion of the road, the distance would be reduced by nearly 100 km.

Sources said the road could be opened for all vehicles by next year.