The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is widening and upgrading the 230-km Kargil-Zanskar Road, connecting two of the remotest locations in Ladakh. The road, a vital segment of National Highway 301, is expected to be completed by next year, News18 has learnt.
It is being built by the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corp (NHIDCL) and will ease the lives of the local population apart from helping India’s strategic forces in the near future. While a major section of this highway includes widening, three new span bridges are also being built for the project.
As per the ministry documents, seen by News18, the project is divided into 11 packages, including construction of three span bridges. According to the latest updates, the work on four packages is complete. In two additional parts, more than 95 per cent construction has been done and it will be ready by July-end. Further, three more packages will be ready by October-November this year.
The first 57 kilometres from the Kargil side – divided into two packages – will be completed by October 2025. The remaining project is expected to be ready this year.
The first part of about 19 kilometres — the fifth package under the project — was completed in June 2023 while two more packages of about 80 kilometres were completed in December 2023. These three packages covered close to 100 kilometres, and included 13 major bridges, 18 minor bridges, and 620 box culverts. Of the three new span bridges, the construction of one completed in January 2024.
Lack of all-weather roads and sturdy transport infrastructure between Kargil and Zanskar made the journey troublesome. The highway will also ease the journey for Tiger Hill, Suru Valley, Kargil Dam area, Sani Monastery, and Pangong Lake.
Last year, while sharing the updates on the project, Union minister Nitin Gadkari had said that the terrain presents immense challenges, with a deep gorge on one side and a steep hill on the other.
“The region’s harsh environment, marked by scant vegetation and low oxygen levels, coupled with its extreme cold climate, compounds the difficulties. Over half of the stretch lacks habitation and network connectivity,” the minister posted on X.
He added that upon completion, this all-weather road will serve as a crucial infrastructure asset, facilitating troop and heavy artillery movement. Beyond its strategic importance, the project is poised to spur economic development and boost tourism in the region.
The Project
Back in 2017, Mansukh L Mandaviya, the then Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, had informed the Lok Sabha that the Kargil to Zanskar section of highway is a newly declared National Highway 301 with existing carriageway width less than two-lane NH standard.
Now, more than half of this road — 121 km — is being upgraded to two-lane highway while the remaining 109 km will be upgraded to intermediate lane — more than one lane but less than two lanes.
In a blog post, NHIDCL said that NH-301 will prove to be an invaluable infrastructural asset for the movement of troops and heavy weapons, especially after the completion of Shinku-La Tunnel, being built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
“The highway will also become the shortest route to Kargil through Manali, Darcha, and Padum areas and will be instrumental in developing these remote areas. It will also enable the development of eco-tourism hubs in the region, where travel enthusiasts can explore the little-known exotic places in the Himalayan foothills,” the body added.
With the development of the highway, Tiger Hill — one of the critical strategic points in the region — will be accessible to defence forces all year round.
The MoRTH-owned company went on to say that the highway is expected to aid in developing small-scale and cottage industries in remote areas and generate employment for the local inhabitants.
“On top of these exotic locations, the beautiful Suru Valley, which has remained hidden from the eyes of tourists, will come into the limelight once the highway is completed.”
While public visit Padum and Zanskar due to better facilities, Suru Valley lagged in tourist traffic. But this highway will help in attracting the flow of tourists into Suru Valley, which will benefit the local inhabitants.
“The highway will also bring Pangong Lake closer to tourists. It is an endorheic lake, with saline water and stretches between India and Tibet,” it added.