Shinku La Tunnel

Shinku-La Tunnel or Shinkula Tunnel or Shingo-La Tunnel or Shinkun La is upcoming motorable tunnel under 16,580ft high Shinku-la pass between Himachal’s Lahaul valley and Ladakh’s Zanskar valley in Northern India.

The tunnel was given principal approval in 2021 but the Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (February 15, 2023) gave a final nod to the project. After budget allocation and floating tenders, the work to dig the tunnel started in July 2024.

Ministry of Defence through Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is building Darcha-Shinkula-Padum-Nimu as an alternative road to connect Ladakh with Himachal Pradesh. This will be the third highway connecting Ladakh with mainland after Srinagar-Kargil-Leh and Manali-Sarchu-Leh highways.

The Manali-Padum-Nimu road or Darcha-Padum-Nimu road will become all-weather after the completion of the Shinku-la tunnel. This will be the safest and shortest road to reach Leh.

As Atal Tunnel, Rohtang, has bypassed 13,050ft high Rohtang pass, Shinkula pass will be the only pass on this new road. Unlike Manali-Sarchu-Leh highway which has many mountain passes, the Darcha-Padum-Nimu road has only one pass — Shinkula pass.

The Defence Ministry is concentrating more on this new road as it will facilitate in military movement even in winter months. Otherwise, both Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh highways get blocked following heavy snowfall for five to seven months a year.

Currently, 10.02 km long Atal tunnel is the world’s longest highway tunnel above 10,000ft. After completion, Shinku-la tunnel will be the longest high altitude highway tunnel in the world above 15,000 ft. The work on the 4.1-km-long Shinku-la tunnel was expected to start in 2021, then 2022 but it started on July 26, 2024. (Please note that as of May 19, 2021, MoD has rejected the proposal of 13.5 km long tunnel from Patseo and given nod to 4.1 KM long Shinku-la tunnel which was surveyed by BRO long back close to Shingo la pass.)

Length of the Darcha-Shinkula pass – Padum-Nimu highway will be 297 KM. Nimu is 35km from Leh and 185km from Kargil. Darcha is 100km from Manali (via Atal Tunnel) along Manali-Sarchu-Leh highway.

Darcha to Padum stretch was connected last year in September when the Discover Leh Ladakh team became first to drive on this stretch. Nearly 35KM road is still to be made to connect Padum with Nimu. About 100km of the road has been made double-lane.

Shinku La Tunnel specifications

• Name of Tunnel: Shinku-La Tunnel
• Length of Tunnel: 4.1 KM (earlier 13.5km)
• Location: Lahaul, Himachal Pradesh and Zanskar, UT of Ladakh
• North Portal: Lakhang, Zanskar (Now 3 KM before Shinku-la top)
• South Portal: At KM 33, Just below Shinku-la top (Earlier it was Patseo, Lahaul)
• Altitude of tunnel (approximate): 15,800ft
• Altitude of Shinkula Pass: 16,580 ft
• Project Cost: Rs 1,681 Crore
• Road: Manali-Darcha-Padum-Nimmu
• Agency: BRO through its newly formed Project Yojak
• Current Status: DPR completed. Work started on July 26, 2024.

https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1816751975616110999

Modi govt approves Shinku la pass tunnel construction at Rs 1,681cr

Updated on February 15, 2023

PM Modi led Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval for the construction of the Shinku La tunnel on the Nimu-Padam-Darcha road axis in an effort to provide all-weather connectivity to the border areas of Ladakh, especially Zanskar valley.

Providing details of the cabinet decision, Union minister Anurag Thakur said the tunnel will be completed by December 2025 at a cost of ₹ 1,681 crore.

The tunnel will be 4.1 km in length. While Darcha-Shinkula road is over 90 per cent complete, Padum-Shinku la road, which is open to the jeeps, is 50 per cent complete. Formation cutting on nearly 20km section of the Nimmu-Padum stretch is still incomplete. The entire road is also expected to be built and double-laned by 2025.

The Shinku La tunnel is aimed to provide all-weather road connectivity to Ladakh and this will be the shortest route to the border areas of the Union territory, the minister said. However, according to local conditions, the road will not remain open 24 hours and all days in winter season due to heavy snowfall in the area which frequently blocks the approach road.

“The Cabinet Committee on Security today approved the Shinku La tunnel for Ladakh area which will provide all-weather connectivity to the Ladakh region with the entire country,” the minister said.

“This (project) is also very important as far as the security and safety of the country is concerned…. It will also help in the movement of our security forces in that region,” Thakur said.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari tweeted: Union Cabinet chaired by PM Shri @narendramodi Ji approves construction of Shinku La Tunnel to provide all-weather connectivity between Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. The length of the tunnel will be 4.1 kilometers which are to be completed by 2025. #CabinetDecisions

The tunnel under Shinku La on the Manali-Darcha-Padam-Nimu axis will allow a continuous supply of troops, equipment, and rations to East Ladakh in winter.#CabinetDecisions

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) February 15, 2023

The tunnel under Shinku La on the Manali-Darcha-Padam-Nimu axis will allow a continuous supply of troops, equipment, and rations to East Ladakh in winter, the minister tweets further.

World’s highest, longest traffic tunnel to come up at Shinkula by 2025: DGBR

Updated on April 16, 2022

World’s longest highway tunnel above 16,000ft beneath 16,580ft high Shinku-la (Shinkun La) will be ready by 2025 that will provide Zanskar valley of Ladakh an all-weather connectivity, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) chief Lt Gen Rajeev Chaudhary said at Shinkula on Saturday.

After attending the Golden Handshake Ceremony on occasion of opening of Nimmu-Padum-Darcha road amidst fresh snowfall and in the middle of 5 to 6ft high walls of snow, the director general border roads (DGBR) Chaudhary said this new road, which has now opened for traffic movement, will be officially opened for all kinds of vehicles as widening and blacktopping of the highway will be completed in three years along with completion of the Shinku-la tunnel.

He said formation cutting of the remaining stretch between Padum and Nimmu will also be completed soon. He said a new Road Construction Company (RCC) will be established in the area.

Chaudhary said: “The Shinku-la (Shinkun La) tunnel will be 4.25km in length at altitude of about 16,000ft. It will be the highest and longest tunnel at this altitude in the entire world. He said work on construction of the tunnel will start in July or August this year. The exercise to build the Nimmu-Darcha road had started 20 years back but the work faced many technical glitches. This new road is going to prove boon not only to the army but also it will bring positive revolution in the Zanskar valley.”

He said it used to take many days to travel from Zanskar to Himachal in the past but now the travel time has been reduced to only a few hours. He said the travel time will further be reduced after widening and blacktopping of the highway.

DGBR said the Yojak Project of BRO, which was formed last year from the Atal tunnel, has occupied the Nimmu-Padum-Darcha road from project Deepak and Vijayak. He said so far there is no plan to bring Keylong-Sarchu-Leh highway under Yojak, but another project may be formed to maintain this highway and to build the proposed highway tunnels.

It was for the first time that the DG of BRO reached Shinku-la after inspecting the under-construction Nimmu-Padum-Darcha highway. He was accompanied by many other top officials. A large number of residents from Zanskar valley had also reached the pass to attend the road opening ceremony.

DGBR said Lahaul valley and Ladakh are the two difficult terrains under BRO jurisdiction where life was very difficult as both areas used to remain cut off from remaining world for six months in winter season.

He said Atal tunnel has provided all-weather connectivity to Lahaul and has brought prosperity in the region. He said, people of Zanskar are going to witness a tremendous change, especially tourism boom, after the road is complete.

DG also honoured and appreciated the workers and machine operators working in the harsh weather conditions at such a high altitude region. He advised the local residents of Zanskar, who generally work as labourers for BRO, to carve their technical skills so that BRO prefers recruiting the local talents.

BRO is giving much attention to this new road which is safer than existing Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh highways as the road does not pass through close to the India-China or India-Pakistan border.

The road also has only one major pass – Shinku-la which is also being bypassed by a new tunnel. While the tunnel will reduce travel time only by 6 to 7km, it will remain safe from the avalanches and heavy snowfall near the pass.

BRO starts exercise to make Jispa their base camp for upcoming tunnel projects

Updated on January 31, 2022

Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is making its base camp at Jispa or nearby area in Lahaul to build the highway tunnels along Manali-Ladakh axis before beginning of the summer season.

The officials have been carrying out the survey between Keylong and Darcha along Manali-Leh highway finalise a huge chunk of land. The base camp will work as office and residential area for engineers and officials besides a store for machines and raw material. Sources said Jispa is being given priority due to its location. However, Darcha and Gemur are other options. Officials said they want to finalise the land in winter season so that work on first tunnel could start in summer season immediately after snow melts away.

Building 4.25 km-long tunnel under 16,600ft high Shinku-la pass on Darcha-Padum-Kargil road will be the first task of BRO under its project Yojak. An official said work on Shinku-la tunnel will start in April or May with a deadline of 2024. After Shinku-la, the next task will be building an 11.25km-long tunnel below 16,050ft high Baralacha pass. However, DPR of the Baralacha tunnel is in its final stage.

Project Yojak chief engineer Jitendra Prasad, who carried out a fresh survey of Lahaul valley along with officials from 38 Border Road Task Force on Monday, said, “People of Lahaul valley had some concerns about the Manali-Keylong highway which is under the threat of avalanches. Also, we have to start work on Shinku-la tunnel this year. The work will begin very soon and project Yojak will acquire some roads and land.”

The Manali-Leh highway is blocked with snow since November and is expected to reopen for traffic movement in April. In an effort to make an all-weather road to Ladakh, the Ministry of Defence had given nod to build three more tunnels on existing Manali-Leh highway. But, as this project will take a long time to complete, the ministry is now emphasising building the 297km-long Nimmu-Padum-Darcha road that further connects Leh and Kargil. Although formation cutting of over 85 per cent of the road is done and blacktopping is continuing on war footing, 16,600ft high Shinku-la pass which receives more than 1,200cm of snow in winter season is the main hurdle in making the road all-weather. So, MoD has approved tunnel under the pass which will help in keeping the road operational on most days in winter season.

The BRO officials said Jispa and Darcha in Lahaul remain well connected by road through Atal tunnel even after snowfall and are located in the foothills of Shinku-la. The area beyond Darcha receives very heavy snow. BRO will establish its base camp here which will have many strategic advantages. Currently, the base camp will cater to the needs of Shinku-la tunnel project. As the same team of BRO will build Baralacha tunnel, the same base camp is expected to support the project.

How much distance the Shinku-la tunnel will reduce and what will be its other advantages are still to be disclosed by BRO. On the other side, DPRs of the other three tunnels on Keylong-Sarchu-Leh highway are expected to be completed this year. These tunnels will help in getting rid of the snow-bound passes. Also, tunnels will decrease the travel distance. The 11.25km-long Baralacha tunnel is expected to reduce the distance between Manali and Leh by nearly 19km and 14.78km-long tunnel below Lachulung-la will decrease distance by about 31km. The 7.32km-long tunnel below Taglangla pass will reduce the distance by about 24km.

Updated on June 16, 2021

ADGBR takes stock of border roads, proposed Shinkula tunnel

Additional director general border roads (ADGBR) Harendra Kumar took stock of the ongoing development works on Manali-Leh axis and he also visited Shinkula pass where work on construction of 4.25-km-long highway tunnel is expected to start soon.

According to BRO sources, ADGBR, along with chief engineer of BRO’s Project Deepak Brig MS Baghi and 38 Border Road Task Force commander Col Uma Shankar visited 16,600ft high Shinkula pass on Wednesday. The Ministry of Defence had recently shown interest in early completion of the Shinkula tunnel and had preferred the 4.25km long tunnel over the 13.5km long tunnel. Survey on possibility of both the tunnel was conducted in recent years but MoD was more interested in the shorter tunnel. Work to dig the tunnel is likely to start this year.

Sources said the ADG checked the road construction work on Darcha-Shinkula section and gathered information about the proposed tunnel. He also took stock of the bridges on the Manali-Leh highway.

While BRO officials apprised the ADG of the ongoing development works and future strategy, the ADG after recce of the region gave some instructions to chief engineer and commander. ADGBR then moved beyond Shinkula towards Padum in Zanskar valley of Ladakh.

He will take stock of the ongoing formation cutting, widening and blacktopping works on this new road which is going to be a major highway to connect Ladakh with mainland. A few bridges are also proposed on this new road which will become the shortest route to reach Kargil without coming to the notice of the enemy.

Updated on May 20, 2021

Not 13.5km, Shinkula likely to have 4.25km-long tunnel

Ladakh is likely to get all-weather connectivity earlier than the expected time as the Ministery of Defence (MoD) is reportedly interested in making a shorter highway tunnel below the 16,600ft high Shinku-la pass on Manali-Darcha-Padum-Nimmu-Leh axis.

While the detailed project report of 13.5km-long Shinkula tunnel was expected to be completed soon, the MoD is more interested in the old proposal of 4.25km long tunnel. The work on the tunnel may start this year after completion of formalities and allocation of the required budget. The tunnel is expected to complete in three years. The remaining work of the road between Shinkula and Nimmu is also expected to complete by 2024 after which Ladakh will remain connected with Himachal and other parts of the country for most of time of the year.

A Border Roads Organisation (BRO) official said they have not received any official declaration of finalising of the tunnel among two proposed tunnels but they have received a verbal message from the headquarters that shorter tunnel is the choice of the MoD. “BRO did survey of the tunnel near Shinku-la as it was budget friendly and needed less time in completion. We can keep the approach roads till the tunnel portals clear from snow in winter season. Building this tunnel will no longer be a challenge for BRO as we have gained enough experience from Atal tunnel,” he said.

Shinku-la pass is 40km from Darcha, a tiny hamlet in Himachal’s Lahaul on Manali-Leh highway. BRO had a proposal of building a 4.25km long tunnel just 3km before the pass. Last year MoD appointed National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) to prepare the DPR of the tunnel. NHIDCL completely changed the axis of the tunnel in its survey and proposed to build a 13.5km-long tunnel from near Patseo, just beyond Darcha on Manali-Leh highway, with tunnel’s north portal opening at Lakhang at the base of the Shinku-la. This longer tunnel was expected to cut short the distance and also the travel time by about 2 hours.

Both BRO and NHIDCL had sent their presentations to MoD and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is believed to have favoured the BRO’s shorter tunnel. However, still there is no official announcement from the ministry.

The Manali-Shinkula-Nimmu highway will be the third major highway to connect landlocked Ladakh with the main land after Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh highways. This highway being flat with just one mountain pass, Shinku-la, will take very less travel time and will prove boon for heavy military supply. Similar to Rohtang, Baralacha and Zoji-la passes, Shinku-la also receives heavy winter snowfall. To make the highway all-weather, a tunnel was needed below Shinku-la. However, the tunnel alone will not make the road all-weather as approach road to the tunnel and entre area to the south of the pass also receive very heavy winter snowfall. But BRO said it can easily clear the snow in winter season to keep the highway clear till the tunnel. Some avalanche protection structures are also proposed to secure traffic from avalanches.

Darcha-Shinkula-Padum stretch is ready for mid-size vehicles while widening and blacktopping is underway on a war footing. The Padum-Nimmu section is still incomplete. A large number of bridges are being constructed while huge mountain faces are being blasted to make way for the highway. The road will connect Leh-Kargil highway at Nimmu, 35km from Leh. Nimmu will be around 397km, Leh 432km and Kargil about 580km from Manali via this new road.

Update on October 19, 2020

Aerial survey of Shinku la tunnel with help of Chinook helicopter begins

The airborne electromagnetic survey of Shinku la mountain range has begun with help of a Chinook helicopter that will help engineers in preparation of the DPR of the 13.5km long Shinkula tunnel being built on Nimu-Darcha-Padum axis between Ladakh and Himachal.

The engineers have set a deadline of December to finalise the DPR while international tender of the world’s longest highway tunnel above 12,000ft will be floated before March 31, 2021. A joint venture between Denmark based SkyTEM and Ahmadabad based Anandjiwala Technical Consultancy have been given the task of aerial survey of the treacherous mountain range between Himachal’s Lahaul and Ladakh’s Zanskar. Chinook helicopter of Indian Air Force (IAF) is carrying an antenna weighing 750kg to scan the mountain range. The antenna that has electromagnetic scanner has capacity to read and record structural data up to 800m deep below the mountain surface. The data scanned will be analysed by the engineers to know structure, presence of metals and type of strata before awarding the tender of the tunnel.

“Following the IAF protocols, Chinook will make Stingri helipad of Lahaul its temporary helipad but it will return to Chandigarh every day. The antenna was assembled at Stingri helipad. Trial flights were conducted last week. The aerial electromagnetic surveys have started and will finish in a few days. This technology will save both money and time. The technology is more accurate and will be of more help to the engineers as compared to the Atal tunnel,” an official said.

Meanwhile, samples of soil are being collected after conducting earth drilling at different places. The samples will be analysed in Delhi. According to sources, there were a total of three proposals for the tunnel but two have been rejected and the 13.5km-long tunnel between Patseo on Manali-Sarchu-Leh highway and Lakhang in Zanskar has been finalised.

As India is looking for all-weather road connectivity to Ladakh as soon as possible, a large number of highway tunnels are being built on Zulu (Leh-Srinagar) and Romeo (Leh-Manali) axis. A tunnel beneath Shinkula pass that will make Manali-Padum-Nimu-Leh axis all-weather and provide the safest passage for Indian Army has become the priority of the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The MoD is preferring this route over Zulu and Romeo highways because of its axis being located far from the border and absence of mountain pass. The highway will be mostly straight, safe, with almost no deep valley and will pass through rain-shadow area.

Amid India-China standoff in Ladakh, MoD has appointed National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), a Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways undertaking company, to prepare the DPR of this strategically important tunnel on Manali-Ladakh axis. NHIDCL is taking help of national and international agencies in making the DPR 100 per cent accurate.

Manali-Darcha-Shinkula-Padum-Nimu highway will be 398-km in length. The Shinku-la tunnel will decrease the distance by about 20km but will decrease the travel time by over one hour. Once the tunnel is complete and the entire length of the highway is four-laned, reaching Leh from Manali in about 10 hours will be possible. According to Border Roads Organisation (BRO) officials, they will connect Nimu with Manali by double-lane highway above Shinku-la pass as the highway will facilitate easy passage of the traffic until tunnel is complete. Nimu to Leh is 35km while Nimu to Kargil is about 185km. The south portal of the tunnel near Patseo is about 125km from Manali. BRO has already stated that they will keep the highway clear of snow till Patseo in winter months.

Update on September 18, 2020

Shinku-la pass to have 13.5km-long tunnel, DPR by Oct 15

World’s longest highway tunnel above 12,000ft from sea level will come up under 16,600ft high Shinku-la pass between Himachal and Ladakh. The detailed project report (DPR) of the13.5km tunnel will be ready by October 15, its tenders will be floated in coming winter season and work will start next year.

Ministry of Defence (MoD) has appointed National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), a Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways undertaking company, to prepare the DPR for this strategically important tunnel. The company has set a deadline of October 15 to finalise the DPR. NHIDCL officials say they have completed the primary survey and location of the north and south portals of the tunnel have also been finalised.

NHIDCL managing director KK Pathak, executive director Sanjeev Malik and other officials visited north and south portals of the tunnel on Thursday and Friday. On Friday, a small ceremony held in north portal in presence of local residents of Kurgiakh village, the first village of Zanskar valley of Ladakh, where local residents gave traditional welcome to the officials.

Local residents of Kurgiakh village of Ladakh welcomes NHIDCL officials at North Portal of Shinku La Tunnel

KK Pathak said they have speeded up the work of DPR of 13.5km-long Shinku-la tunnel between Ladakh and Himachal. “Centre is giving priority to build infrastructure in border areas of UT of Ladakh and Himachal. We are trying hard to complete the DPR before October 15 as we want to complete the work before winter snowfall. In order to improve the road connectivity and its availability throughout the year, NHIDCL has been given responsibility to prepare the DPR of Shinku-la tunnel. Locals present at the north portal site were extremely happy as they will get all-weather road connectivity,” he said.

Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is making an optional all-weather road to Ladakh via Shinku-la. As Shinku-la pass receives heavy snow in winter months, BRO will build a highway tunnel beneath the pass so that traffic could move year-round.

Earlier a small 4 to 5km-long tunnel was proposed to be built on Darcha-Shinkula-Kurgiakh axis but the engineers are in favour of building this tunnel at quite different location. According to sources, NHIDCL wanted to make the tunnel from near Patseo on Manali-Sarchu-Leh axis. The tunnel’s south portal will be at Patseo, about 30km from Darcha village of Lahaul and its north portal will be at Lakhang in Ladakh’s Zanskar valley. This tunnel will be almost three-times in length but will reduce much more distance.

The Defence Ministry has speeded up all the border road projects in Himachal and Ladakh amid India-China standoff at Ladakh. This tunnel will reduce the distance of 297km-long Darcha-Padum-Nimu road and will help military convoy in reaching Leh in just one day. According to officials, now this tunnel is of most priority of the Centre and work on it will start next year. The tender for the tunnel are likely to be floated in December this year. The work on Baralacha pass tunnel on Manali-Sarchu-Leh highway is also expected to start next year.

Ref: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/work-on-worlds-longest-high-altitude-tunnel-to-start-next-year/articleshow/78211776.cms

Update on September 8, 2020

DGBR visits Shinkula pass as work on another traffic tunnel likely soon

The Director General Border Roads (DGBR) Lt Gen Harpal Singh on Tuesday visited Darcha-Shinkula pass road in Lahaul valley to review the development of the tunnel beneath Shinkula pass, another prestigious project of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) after Atal Tunnel, Rohtang.

As BRO in effort to strengthen border road infrastructure is building the third road to connect Ladakh with mainland via Shinkula, the DGBR visited the pass for the first time to take stock of the current situation. Defence Ministry is keen to complete the work on this new road as soon as possible as it will take lesser time to reach Ladakh compared to Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh highways. This highway will also be the safest road to Ladakh for military supply as the road axis is completely away from the border. The visit of DGBR to Shinkula has confirmed that BRO’s next important project will be a traffic tunnel under Shinkula.

Similar to Rohtang pass and Zojila pass, 16,600ft high Shinkula pass receives heavy snowfall during winter months. To make the road all-weather, a tunnel under the pass was required. The detailed project report (DPR) of the Shinku La Tunnel is being developed and work on it is expected to start within two years.

The DGBR who reviewed work of Atal tunnel, Rohtang on Monday, travelled on 40km Darcha-Shinkula road which is being widened and blacktopped. BRO officials explained him about the current status of the road and about primary survey of the Shinkula tunnel.

BRO has speeded up the new border road works and repairing of the existing roads and bridges in reply to China developing infrastructure close to the border. Given the current situation at China-India border at Ladakh, opening Atal tunnel for traffic will make a huge difference as it will not only reduce distance between Manali and Leh by about 46km but also reduce travel time by 2 to 3 hours.

“Looking forward the future aspect of Leh-Manali highway, DGBR took a glance of Shinkula area for development of Shinkula tunnel. As winter season is nearing and given the strategic importance of the Atal tunnel, DGBR is closely monitoring the work through daily briefings,” a BRO spokesperson said.

Atal tunnel, Rohtang, will not make Manali-Leh highway all-weather until similar traffic tunnels are build beneath Baralacha pass, Lachulungla, Nakeela and Taglangla pass. On the other hand, building a tunnel below Shinkula will keep Manali-Darcha-Shinkula-Leh highway open for almost 12 months a year. However, only tunnels will not keep vehicular traffic operational year-round as there will be dozens of avalanche sites which generally keep highway closed for days.

The Darcha-Shinkula-Padum stretch is ready for mid-size vehicles but trucks cannot ply the highway due to narrow road with sharp bends. Half of the Padum-Nimu section is ready and work on remaining is underway. Completion of the entire Manali-Padum-Nimu road for all kind of vehicles is expected to take at least two more years. Once completed, the military supply can be taken from this highway without much effort. Nimu to Leh is just 35km and Nimu to Kargil is about 185km.

Ref: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/ladakh-to-get-all-weather-connectivity-with-2-roads-from-manali-soon/articleshow/78177504.cms