Manali-Leh highway is now open to all

As per the latest news, the Manali-Leh highway is now open to all. After being shut to the general public for months, the road has opened after the BRO cleared the 427 km highway of heavy snow in a record 138 days.

The highway is strategically important as it facilitates the movement of the armed forces and their supplies and wares to forward areas in the Ladakh region, bordering both China and Pakistan, as well as it connects Ladakh to the rest of India.

Reports have it that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has cleared vehicular traffic for Ladakh via Srinagar and Manali in record time, supplementing the benefit of the Atal Tunnel in Himachal

The BRO, with a renewed focus on the early opening of all strategic roads and passes, has been working hard to reduce the closure duration and opening the road earlier than the previous years.

The 439 km Srinagar route opened on March 16 after 68 days, a far cry from the time when the 11,540 fy Zoji La, 100 km from Srinagar, used to remain closed for months. Also, the 427 km Manali-Leh road via the Atal Tunnel opened just recently after 138 days, against May/June earlier.

Reports add that the 16,561 ft Shinku La (pass) on the Nimu-Padam-Darcha (NPD) road opened on Thursday after a gap of 55 days. Early resumption of traffic on these routes will also help forces to space out – instead of pushing it in 3-4 months.

This will also allow trucking of civil and fresh supplies instead of costly air freight, whereas those travelling to Ladakh and guest workers will have a cheaper travel option than the flights, which remain the only means when road connectivity is hampered due to heavy snowfall.