Context

Border Roads Organisation (BRO) connected the strategic Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road in Ladakh. 

BRO Connects strategic Nimmu-Padam-Darcha Road in Ladakh

• Connectivity: This 298-km road will connect Manali to Leh through Darcha and Nimmu on Kargil – Leh Highway. 
  • The road starts at Nimo, which lies on the Leh-Srinagar highway, 35 km before Leh.
• Third Axis connecting Ladakh: The road is now the third axis apart from Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh which connects Ladakh to the hinterland.
• Road Alignment: The road is aligned along the course of Zanskar river till Padum, after which it follows the Lungnak river till Purne village and the Kurgiakh river till Shinkun La pass, which is located on the border of Himachal and Ladakh. 
  • It meets the Manali-Leh highway in Darcha, a village in Lahaul And Spiti district.

• Significance: 
  • The Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road is not only shorter vis-a-vis the other two axes, but crosses only one pass i.e, Shinkun La (16,558 feet) on which tunnel work is about to commence by the BRO. 
  • All weather connectivity to the Ladakh region: The connectivity will strengthen the defense preparedness and provide a boost to the economic development in the Zanskar valley.

About Zanskar River

• About: The Zanskar River is a north flowing tributary of the Indus River in Jammu and Kashmir. 
• River Branches: Zanskar River has two main branches, one is Doda with main source near Pansi-La Pass and other branch is formed by Kargyag River (source near Shingo La) and Tsarap River (source near Baralacha La). 
• River Course: The river meanders north –westwards through the dramatic gorge of Zanskar and finally meets the Indus River near Nimmu of Ladakh region.