Roads, Railway To Zoji-La Tunnel: How Ladakh Got Infrastructure Boost

After becoming a Union Territory in 2019, Ladakhhas significantly improved its road infrastructure. It is now well equipped with snow-clearance machinery to ensure road connectivity during heavy snowfall.

Around 1,670 kilometres of additional roads have been constructed or blacktopped in Ladakh since it was granted Union Territory status in 2019. From 2020 to March 2025, Centre has provided Rs 20,660 crore for road development of Ladakh. These roads have reduced travel time and promoted tourism. The under-construction Zoji-La Tunnel is aimed at providing year-round connectivity between Srinagar and Leh, via Dras and Kargil. The tunnelis set to become India’s longest road tunnel and Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel. The 255 km all-weather Darbuk-Shyok-DBO (DS-DBO) road, linking Karakoram Pass to Leh via Galwan, now enables year-round strategic access to the frontier. Approved in 2023, the 4.1 km long Twin-Tube Shinkun La tunnel to be constructed at around 15,800 feet on the Nimu – Padum – Darcha Road to provide all-weather connectivity to Leh. Once completed, it will be the highest tunnel in the world. In March 2024, the BRO completed the 298-km Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road, creating a third vital axis to connect Ladakh with the hinterland alongside the Manali–Leh and Srinagar–Leh routes. The governmentis also building a 130-km alternative road to Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) military outpost in eastern Ladakh. This route, via Nubra Valley, offers enhanced security compared to the existing road, which is easily monitored by China. In September 2025, BRO’s Project Vijayak marked its 15th Raising Day in Kargil with a ₹1,200 crore infrastructure push. Over 15 years, it has built 1,400 km of roads and 80 bridges in Ladakh, including the record reopening of Zojila Pass in just 31 days. The Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway project has received an allocation of Rs 1.31 lakh crore. At present, the journey from Delhi to Leh takes 40 hours (by road), but after the railway line is ready, it will reduce the travel time in half to 20 hours. Nyoma Airfield (Sep 12, 2023): BRO strategic project to build the world’s highest fighter airfield at ~13,700 ft with a cost of approx 218 crore. In 2021, BRO blacktopped the Umling La road at an altitude of 19,300 feet, creating the world’s highest motorable road as certified by Guinness World Records, and giving Ladakh a new symbol of connectivity and high-altitude tourism.