45 yrs after China conflict, Delhi to build roads linking Ladakh outposts

Official sources confirmed to The Indian Express that within the next five years, a road linking Leh with Shyok, Murgo, Daulat Beg Oldi, near the Karakoram Pass, will be built so that the LAC can be manned more effectively. It was this area — from Demchok to Chushul to Spanggur Gap to Hot Springs to Chip-Chap river — that bore the burnt of the Chinese aggression in 1962 in the western sector.

Even today, Chinese troops routinely flex muscle in the Chip-Chap river area which they perceive to be part of their territory.

In the second week of May, Prime Minister’s Special Envoy Shyam Saran visited all important outposts from Demchok to Daulat Beg Oldi to get a first-hand account of the existing

infrastructure in the western sector.

Before going to the area, Saran was briefed by the Army’s DGMO, ITBP chief, External Affairs Ministry officials and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) chief. He will submit a detailed report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Even today, it takes an ITBP supply mule convoy 16 days to reach Murgo from Shyok as there are no roads and air-drops depend on availability of Army helicopters. There is no telephone connectivity — an ITBP jawan has to pay Rs 25 per minute (subsidized from Rs 95 per minute) to speak to his family over the INMARSAT.

It’s a picture in contrast across the LAC. The Chinese highway cuts across Aksai Chin and all outposts in the sector are connected by roads and telephone. With the India-China Special Representatives dialogue still stuck on the eastern sector, New Delhi wants to improve the road communication network along the Tibet border.

Over-riding concerns of the Indian Army, the China Study Group headed by the Cabinet Secretary had recommended 12 strategic roads — 1 in the western, 1 in the middle and 10 in the eastern sector. These roads, okayed by the Cabinet in September 2006 and expected to cost over Rs 900 crore, are to be built by the BRO and the state PWD. Work on roads in the eastern and middle sector have already begun.

In the western sector, a strategic road right upto Daulat Beg Oldi (named after a Yarkand nobleman) will be built with hubs at Shyok and Murgo which in turn will connect the outposts at the LAC. There’s already a motorable road from Leh to Pangong Tso lake and then on to Chushul and Demchok.

However, the exercise is not only limited to roads as the UPA government is seriously examining the feasibility of an oil-fired power plant in Ladakh that will cut costs of ferrying diesel and kerosene to outposts in the western sector. At present, security forces rely on diesel generators for electricity and kerosene stoves for cooking.

In this overall scheme of having better road and communication connectivity in Ladakh, Saran is also expected to recommend a snow-free axis connecting Manali with Ladakh as well as fresh alignment of the Drass-Kargil highway that will put it beyond the reach of Pakistani artillery from across the Line of Control.