Zoji La

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Reopening in spring

2024: within 35 days vs. 68 in 2023

Sanjay Dutta, March 25, 2024: The Times of India

New Delhi:Border Roads Organisation has reopened Zoji La (pass), the main obstacle in Ladakh’s lifeline via Srinagar, for vehicular traffic after 35 days of being under snow against 68 days last year — a record that reflects India’s growing mountain roadbuilding prowess that has big upside for border defence as well as people’s lives in the frontier region. The 439-km Srinagar-Leh road is the main link connecting Ladakh to Jammu & Kashmir and is the key route to move troops and supplies in the frontier region.


The 11,540-ft Zoji La, about 100km from Srinagar, used to be closed for around 160-180 days during the winter some years ago. But the closure period has come down in the last few years as a result of govt’s thrust on developing border connectivity and deployment of latest machinery.


The road had seen intermittent traffic disruptions as winter set in in the last few months. It was closed for a few days around Dec 23 but was reopened soon. Again on Feb 25, traffic was suspended because of heavy snowfall caused by a series of western disturbances.


Early resumption of traffic in the last 2-3 years has allowed the forces to space out — instead of squeezing in 3-4 months earlier — the annual rotation of larger-than-usual number of troops deployed in the region since the May 2020 Galwan border clashes with the Chinese army.


It will also allow trucking of civil and fresh supplies instead of costly air freight. Home-bound Ladakhis and guest workers will have a cheaper travel option than the prohibitively expensive flights that remain the only means when heavy snow snaps road connectivity.


The short closures of the difficult passes has demonstrated BRO’s snow-clearing capability. Govt is capitalising this by boring a tunnel under Zoji La, set to be completed soon. Thermal tunnel will have major upside for defence preparedness, quality of life and tourism in the region by establishing connectivity throughout the year.