Strategic Srinagar-Leh national highway re-opens

Zojila (Leh) Apr 1: The 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway, the lifeline of the Ladakh region and having an immense strategic importance, re-opened for vehicular traffic today after remaining closed for six winter months since November last year.

Despite heavy snowfall in the last week of March, the Border road organization (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway reopened it a fortnight before the schedule.

General Officer-in-Commanding (GOC) VX Corps Lt Gen A S Sekhon flagged off an army convoy carrying essential stores for troops deployed in the Ladakh region from this highest point on the highway, which also passes through worlds second coldest place Drass, in presence of mediapersons today.

Besides army convoy, a number of passenger vehicles and those carrying vegetable and other essentials also left for Leh. However, no truck was allowed as repair work of the road was still going on at some places.

The BRO has been making continuous efforts to keep the road open for maximum time of the year.

The 75-km stretch from Gagangir to Drass spreading almost equally on either side of the Zojila Pass which was closed for traffic in November last year, experienced heavy snowfall and extremely adverse climatic conditions during the last winter.

The road between Gagangir and Machoi (116 km) was completely riddled with huge avalanches, which resulted in snow accumulation between 40 and 60 ft.

The BRO launched its snow clearance operation on the Zojila Pass in March this year. However, it had to stop the snow clearance operation for about a week following heavy snowfall which also damaged a machine in the last week of March.

With nearly four decades of experience in snow clearance operations, Project Beacon has snow mechanised with new snow cutting machines for augmenting the earlier dozers.

A total of five snow cutters and nine dozers were deployed between 72 km and 108 km by the Project Beacon and two snow cutters and 12 dozers from 147 km to 108 km by Project Himank.

As the entire highway was covered with thick snow, the most difficult task has been to identify the road alignment after every winter. The reconnaissance party with the help of local labourers perform this job with several navigational aids.

The gushing of water due to snow melting and traversing across the road caused extensive damages to the road surface. This warranted a very high degree of maintenance before the highway was finally opened.

After successful completion of the trial convoy and placement of all detachments, the highway was opened for all traffic today.

UNI