298-km Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road through Zanskar opened to traffic
The Border Roads Organisation's 298-km road links Nimmu near Leh with Darcha in Himachal Pradesh through the Zanskar valley and the high-altitude Shinkun La pass. It gives Ladakh a third road corridor besides the Srinagar–Leh and Manali–Leh highways. Officials say a trip that took about 12 hours can now be done in about 3.
Roads High-altitude Ladakh About Rs 2,500 cr
Why it matters: Year-round access to health care, schools and markets for Zanskar villages, and an alternative route for supplies into Ladakh.
Official sources
- Press Information Bureau, release 2323218, 14 Oct 2026
- Prime Minister's Office (pmindia.gov.in), 15 Oct 2026
Summary written by Indiacon in our own words from the official sources above. Found an error? Write to indiacongroupofengineers [at] gmail [dot] com.