India to Build New Single Lane Highway Alongside LAC

A new single lane highway, spanning around 135 km, will be built alongside the Line of Actual Control (LAC) from Chushul to Demchok in the next two years as a major strategic road for India in response to China’s actions. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has invited bids for the construction of the Chushul-Dungti-Fukche-Demchok highway, also known as the CDFD road. The existing track will be converted into a road according to National Highway single lane standards, at a cost of nearly Rs 400 crore, as per the bid documents reviewed by News18. The new road will run almost alongside the Indus River and parallel to the LAC, in close proximity to the India-China border in Leh.

For many decades, much of this key route has been a dirt track, raising questions about why India has not been able to construct a paved road here, while China has significantly improved its road infrastructure across the Indus. Chushul is the location of the 1962 battle of Rezang La, and Demchok is another area with a history of skirmishes between India and China. The new road will be strategically important as it will allow for quick movement of troops and equipment and also promote tourism by converting this area into a circuit. The 7.45-meter wide road will also include the construction of three important bridges. The BRO completed the Detailed Project Report for this road in 2018 and has recently invited bids in two packages for its construction.

The construction of this new road will be the second major infrastructure project in the Leh region, following the Border Roads Organisation’s (BRO) invitation for bids last month to build the Nyoma Airfield in Ladakh, which will include an Advance Landing Ground for fighter planes.

Source: News18