#LEH: The Leh – Manali National Highway, which was closed in November last year following snowfall, was opened by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for the movement of army vehicles. Project Himank in Leh and Project Deepak in Himachal Pradesh carried out the snow clearance operations.
As the two teams converged to a common point, a ‘Golden Handshake’ ceremony was organised at the Sarchu border on Tuesday. At present, the road is open only for the Army convoys. The District Disaster Management Authorities will take the decision to allow access for locals and tourists over subsequent periods.
As per the officials, the snow clearance is undertaken in extremely challenging conditions particularly at high mountain passes, including Baralacha La, Nakee La, Lachung La and Tanglang La all of which stand at an altitude of more than 15 thousand feet.
The 427-kilometre-long highway linking Ladakh to the rest of India through Manali holds strategic importance for facilitating the movement of armed forces and their essential supplies to forward positions in Ladakh. Serving as an alternative route to the Srinagar-Leh Highway, it plays a crucial role in maintaining connectivity and logistical support in the region.
