Srinagar - Ladakh road reopened in record time

The strategic 434-km Srinagar-Leh national highway was opened for trial movement of traffic on Thursday at Zozilla which is situated at an altitude of 11,650 metres. The decision to open the road for civil traffic will be taken in the next few days, officials said. The road used to remain closed for about six months every year due to heavy snowfall. But since the past three years, the Border Roads Organisation has been breaking its own records when it comes to the reopening of the pass. In 2021, the road was thrown open in 110 days, then in 78 days in 2022 and this year, in just 68 days. Zojila is a strategic pass that provides a vital link between the Kashmir valley and Ladakh, and it is key to operational preparedness of the armed forces.