On March 25, 2024, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) completed the construction of the strategic Nimu-Padam-Darcha road in Ladakh.

This road covers a distance of 298 km and serves as a crucial link between Manali and Leh, passing through Darcha and Nimmu along the Kargil-Leh Highway.
Its completion is significant as it establishes the third axis connecting Ladakh to the mainland, in addition to the Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh routes.

Strategic importance of Nimu-Padam-Darcha road

The Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road holds strategic importance due to its efficiency in comparison to the other routes. It is not only shorter but also crosses only one pass, the Shinkun La, which stands at an impressive height of 16,558 feet.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is all set to commence tunnel work on this pass which will ensure all-weather connectivity to the Ladakh region. This connectivity will not only bolster defence preparedness but also promises to catalyze economic development in the Zanskar valley.
Measuring 4.25 km in length, the BRO has planned to construct the Shinkun La Pass Tunnel, to connect Lahaul in Himachal Pradesh with Zanskar in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
The project also encompasses the construction of 2.5 km of double-lane approach roads with paved shoulders, along with three major bridges ranging from 100 to 150 meters in length, in addition to other associated structures.
With the initiation of construction on the Shinkun La tunnel, the realization of the third all-weather axis to Ladakh is on the horizon. This will further fortify the region’s connectivity and accessibility, providing a boost to the economic and strategic growth of the region.

Shinku-La Tunnel

The Shinku-La Tunnel (also known as Shinkula Tunnel, Shingo-La Tunnel, or Shinkun La) is an upcoming motorable tunnel located under the 16,580ft high Shinku-la pass.
This tunnel will connect Himachal's Lahaul valley with Ladakh's Zanskar valley in Northern India. Similar to the Atal Tunnel that bypasses the high Rohtang pass, the newly constructed Darcha-Padum-Nimmu road boasts the Shinkula pass as its sole mountain pass. In contrast to the Manali-Sarchu-Leh highway, which features various passes, this road offers a singular pass to navigate.
It's worth noting that the Atal Tunnel is currently the world's longest highway tunnel above 10,000ft. However, once completed, the Shinku-la tunnel will take the crown as the longest high altitude highway tunnel in the world.