Leh linked with world by road

At last the Srinagar-Leh highway, that links the Ladakh region to the rest of the country, has been opened for vehicular traffic after five months. This route is opened for half as year. Working against the odds in a tough terrain, the Border Roads Organisation was successful in clearing the snow-blocked roads to open the highway. The BRO is assigned with the task of clearing the snow-bound stretch across the 11,578-foot high Zojila pass, which lies on the lower depression of the Himalayan range,  along the 434 kilometre Srinagar-Kargil-Leh Highway.  The highway had earlier been closed for traffic after the Zojila pass had experienced heavy snowfall and avalanches over the past five months. The strategic 434 Km long Srinagar - Kargil - Leh National Highway (NH-1D) was thrown open to vehicular traffic today in a simple yet important ceremony presided by Lt Gen Subrata Saha, GOC Chinar Corps. Last year the highway was opened to vehicular traffic on the same day ie 13 May 2014. This year, despite the heavy snowfall during Feb - Mar 2015 (caused due to the Westerly disturbance), the snow clearance operations commenced on 18 March 2015 and was completed in the first week of May 2015. This was followed up by trials for both light and heavy vehicles to ensure that the road was fit in all respects.The strategic and economic importance of this road which, besides boosting tourism in Kashmir & Ladakh, also serves as a lifeline to the entire Ladakh Region. Its importance to the tourism sector is significant as it provides land connectivity through some of the most breathtaking terrain in the Nation.