Modi Inaugurates Ladakh Projects Worth Rs 3,350 Crore, Including Strategic Road

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday virtually inaugurated five development projects worth around Rs 3,350 crore in Ladakh, covering airport infrastructure, strategic road connectivity, renewable energy, heritage conservation and water security.

The projects include a new passenger terminal at the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh, constructed at a cost of Rs 640 crore. Spread across 23,800 square metres, the terminal is designed to handle 35 lakh passengers annually. It incorporates geothermal energy to improve efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint while blending modern amenities with Ladakh’s cultural heritage.

Modi also dedicated to the nation the 298-km Nimmu-Padum-Darcha Road, built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Connecting Nimmu in Leh with Darcha in Himachal Pradesh through the remote Zanskar Valley, the road provides an alternative route to Ladakh alongside the Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh highways.

Traversing challenging Himalayan terrain, including the high-altitude Shinkun La Pass, the road is expected to strengthen military logistics and operational mobility. It will also improve access to healthcare, education, markets and essential services for residents of Zanskar.

The prime minister inaugurated the 9 MW Hanu small hydroelectric project and the 66 kV double-circuit Dah-Hanu-Khaltsi transmission line to strengthen electricity supply and support the region’s hydropower potential.

He also inaugurated India’s first Petroglyph Conservation Park at Sindhu Ghat in Leh to preserve ancient rock carvings depicting wildlife, human figures and symbolic representations that offer insights into the region’s prehistoric past.

Under Project Him Sarovar, 40 water bodies developed across 40 villages were also inaugurated. The initiative seeks to address seasonal water shortages by conserving water when available and ensuring its supply during critical periods, particularly the sowing season.

The project aligns with the objectives of Mission Amrit Sarovar and aims to strengthen irrigation, agricultural livelihoods and long-term water security in the ecologically sensitive region. Modi said the projects would ease travel, improve electricity facilities, increase water availability and strengthen the preservation of Ladakh’s ancient heritage.