Nimmu-Padam-Darcha Road

Nimmu-Padam-Darcha Road

News: Recently, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) connected the strategic Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road in Ladakh.

About:
 It is 298-km road that will connect Manali to Leh through Darcha and Nimmu on Kargil – Leh Highway.
 It is the 3rd road which connects Ladakh to the hinterland. Other 2 roads are Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh which connects Ladakh to the hinterland.
 The road starts at Nimo, which lies on the Leh-Srinagar highway, 35 km before Leh. It meets Manali-Leh highway in Darcha, a village in Lahaul and Spiti district.
 The road is aligned along the course of Zanskar river till Padum, after which it follows the Lungnak river till Purne village and the Kurgiakh river till Shinkun La pass, which is located on the border of Himachal and Ladakh.

Significance:
 The Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road holds strategic significance due to its shorter length compared to the other two axes. 
 It crosses only one pass that is Shinkun La (16,558 feet) on which tunnel work is about to commence by the BRO. This will result in the road having all weather connectivity to the Ladakh region.
 The tunnel will be designed to withstand long-range artillery shelling or missile firings from neighbouring countries like China and Pakistan, bolstering defence preparedness in the region. This enhanced connectivity will lead to economic development in the Zanskar valley, as highlighted by the ministry.