On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ladakh on Friday (July 26) to launch the construction of the Shinkun La Tunnel project, which is expected to be the world’s highest tunnel.
The 4.1 kilometer long double tube tunnel will be constructed at an altitude of approximately 15,800 feet on the Nimu-Padum-Darcha road. The tunnel, to be built by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) at a cost of Rs 1,681 crore, was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Safety headed by the Prime Minister in February last year. The Shinkun La tunnel, with passages every 500 meters, is expected to be completed within two years.
#WATCH | Ladakh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually carries out the first blast of the Shinkun La Tunnel project
Shinkun La Tunnel Project consists of a 4.1 km long Twin-Tube tunnel which will be constructed at an altitude of around 15,800 feet on the Nimu – Padum – Darcha… pic.twitter.com/ISobHEhkzl
— ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2024
Aimed at providing all-weather connectivity to Leh, the tunnel will be of immense strategic importance. Currently, the route remains covered with snow for at least five months each year.
The tunnel will not only boost economic development in Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, but will also prove essential for the mobilization of troops and the movement of heavy weapons along the northern border with China, especially as the military confrontation with the neighboring state in eastern Ladakh has been ongoing for the past four years. flight.
This is why the construction of a tunnel along the Chinese border has remained a top priority for the government despite the harsh weather conditions and challenging topography. The tunnel can also be used for underground storage of ammunition, missiles, fuel and other supplies. It will be equipped with fire fighting, mechanical ventilation, communication and control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems to handle any unusual situation.
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In addition, the Shinkun La tunnel will also reduce the gap between India’s “border infrastructure” and China along the 3,488 kilometer Line of Actual Control. Over the past decade, the Narendra Modi government has built a network of roads, tunnels, bridges, troop emplacements, permanent defenses, helipads and airports along the Chinese border.
