Strategic Shyok tunnel to boost connectivity to forward military posts

Among the 125 major infrastructure projects inaugurated by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday, 41 are located in Ladakh, officials said, adding that the new projects will significantly enhance civilian and military connectivity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

One of the key inaugurations was the strategic Shyok Tunnel on the Darbuk–Shyok–Daulat Beg Oldie (DS–DBO) Road, a lifeline for remote and forward military locations in the region. Officials said the tunnel will help overcome a stretch prone to frequent landslides and disruptions, thus ensuring reliable access throughout the year.

The Defence Minister dedicated the projects—constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO)—from Ladakh, marking the highest number of BRO projects ever inaugurated simultaneously. Officials said the works, completed at an approximate cost of Rs 5,000 crore, represent the highest-value set of inaugurations in the organisation’s history.

A senior BRO official told The Tribune that the Shyok stretch had long been vulnerable to weather-related disruptions. “With this tunnel, the Army will finally have all-weather connectivity,” the official said.

Singh described the Shyok Tunnel as an “engineering marvel” built in one of the world’s toughest and most challenging terrains, which will ensure all-weather, reliable connectivity to this strategic area. He said the 920-metre cut-and-cover tunnel would significantly boost security, mobility and rapid deployment capability, especially during harsh winters when the region faces heavy snowfall, avalanches, and extreme temperatures.

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta, who joined the inauguration ceremony, noted that of the 125 projects unveiled nationwide, 41 were completed in Ladakh alone. He called the development a “historic milestone” for the region.

Praising the BRO’s “exceptional work” under extreme conditions, the L-G highlighted several key achievements: the DS–DBO cut-and-cover tunnel that guarantees all-weather access; the world’s highest multi-span Sosar Brangsa Bridge; the Nimo–Padam–Darcha Road that provides Ladakh its third and shortest route; and the operationalisation of the high-altitude Mudh–Nyoma Airfield, which he termed a “strategic asset for national security.”

He added that BRO’s efforts have also bolstered tourism, with improved routes such as Mahe–Chushul and Mahe–Debring enhancing access to Pangong, Chushul, and Tso Moriri, thereby supporting adventure and eco-tourism.

Gupta said the new projects would significantly improve connectivity, accelerate economic activity, and ensure reliable access to border areas that were previously cut off for months.