Daijiworld Media Network - Leh
Leh, Oct 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday virtually inaugurated five major development projects in Ladakh, involving a combined investment of around Rs 3,350 crore, covering airport infrastructure, road connectivity, power supply, heritage conservation and water management.
Among the projects is a new passenger terminal at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh, built at a cost of Rs 640 crore. Spread across 23,800 square metres, the terminal can handle 35 lakh passengers annually, officials said.
The facility uses geothermal energy to improve energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint, keeping in view Ladakh’s ecologically sensitive environment. It also incorporates elements of the region’s cultural heritage while providing modern passenger facilities and improving air connectivity with the rest of the country.
Modi also dedicated the 298-km Nimmu-Padum-Darcha Road to the nation. Constructed by the Border Roads Organisation, the road connects Nimmu in Leh with Darcha in Himachal Pradesh through the remote Zanskar Valley.
The route provides an alternative link to Ladakh alongside the Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh highways. Passing through challenging Himalayan terrain, including the high-altitude Shinkun La Pass, it is expected to improve military mobility and logistical support for the armed forces. The road will also enhance access to healthcare, education, markets and essential services for residents of Zanskar.
Addressing the occasion virtually, Modi said the projects would make travel easier, improve electricity facilities, increase water availability and strengthen the preservation of Ladakh’s ancient heritage.
To improve energy security and harness the region’s renewable energy potential, the prime minister inaugurated the 9 MW Hanu small hydroelectric project and the 66 kV double-circuit Dah-Hanu-Khaltsi transmission line.
The two projects are expected to strengthen power transmission infrastructure, improve the reliability of the electricity network and support the use of Ladakh’s hydropower resources.
Modi also inaugurated India’s first Petroglyph Conservation Park at Sindhu Ghat in Leh to protect the region’s archaeological heritage. Ladakh is home to hundreds of prehistoric rock art sites featuring carvings of wildlife, human figures and symbolic representations that offer insights into thousands of years of human history.
In another initiative, the prime minister inaugurated 40 water bodies developed across 40 villages under Project Him Sarovar. The project aims to address the region’s geographical and climatic challenges through water conservation and is aligned with the objectives of Mission Amrit Sarovar.
Farmers in Ladakh often face a mismatch between water availability and agricultural demand, with shortages occurring during the crucial sowing season despite the availability of snowmelt and glacial runoff at other times of the year.
Project Him Sarovar seeks to conserve water when it is available and ensure supplies when required. The initiative is expected to support irrigation, sustain agricultural livelihoods and strengthen long-term water security in the region.