BRO starts process for 135-km road near LAC from Chushul to Demchok
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on 23 January invited bids for constructing the Chushul-Dungti-Fukche-Demchok highway, also known as the CDFD road
The new road will run almost alongside the Indus River and virtually parallel to the LAC, very close to the India-China border in Leh. PTI File
Anew single-lane highway of around 135 km would come up alongside the Line of Actual Control (LAC) from Chushul to Demchok in the next two years, which will act as a major strategic road for the country in a counter to China.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on 23 January invited bids for constructing the Chushul-Dungti-Fukche-Demchok highway, also known as the CDFD road. The existing track will be made into a road as per the National Highway single lane standards in two years at the 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 virtually parallel to the LAC, very close to the India-China border in Leh.
Map for the Chushul-Demchok Road Project close to the LAC.
For many decades, much of this key route has been a dirt track with questions being raised on why India has not been able to lay a medalled road here while China has ramped up road infrastructure across the Indus.
Chushul is where the 1962 battle of Rezang La was fought. Demchok is another area with a history of skirmishes between India and China. The new road will be strategic as it will enable quick movement of troops and equipment and also help tourism by converting this area into a circuit.
The 7.45-metre-wide road will involve the construction of three important bridges on it as well. The BRO completed the Detailed Project Report of this road in 2018. It invited bids in two packages for the road on Monday.
Second boost after Nyoma Airfield
This road will be the second boost for infrastructure in the Leh region after the BRO had last month invited bids for building the Nyoma Airfield in Ladakh, comprising an Advance Landing Ground where fighter planes can land.
News18 reported on 31 December that the Nyoma Airfield will act as a strategic asset and the upgraded advance landing ground will be one of the highest airfields in India and is located less than 50 km from the LAC.
This upgraded advance landing ground will be ready for fighter aircraft operations in two years at the cost of Rs 214 crore and will be located near the upcoming CDFD road. The site for the new advance landing ground will be spread over 1,235 acres, where a 2.7-km runway with allied military infrastructure will come up.
Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,
India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
also read
Army maintaining strong defence posture at LAC, ready to tackle any contingency: General Pande on Army Day
"In the northern border areas, the situation has been normal and through established protocols and existing mechanisms, necessary steps have been taken to maintain peace. The Army is maintaining a strong defence posture at LAC," he said while addressing a gathering in Bengaluru
Indian Navy carries out crucial surveillance operation along Pakistan border
A Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA), the P-8I Poseidon aircraft is use for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions by the Indian Navy
India-Japan air exercises are aimed at belligerent, expansionist China
While both India and Japan consider China a strong threat, for the US, China remains an essential but distant threat. It, therefore, becomes imperative for the two major Asian powers, India and Japan, to jointly collaborate towards countering China