Sasoma–Saser La Road
Strategic significance
This road provides access to the India-held DBO and
History
Road construction
In August 2020, a dirt track was created from Sasoma to Saser La & Saser Brangsa, which was later widened to a 30 ft road after the National Board for Wildlife gave permission to allocate 55 hectares land of Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary for the road widening. In April 2023, 2 month long black-topping of 43 km long Sasoma-Saser La section commenced. After its completion in June 2023, the paving of 4 km long section over the Saser La with the concrete interlocking tiles started which will be completed by August 2023. Route from Saser Brangsa to Murgo and Saser Brangsa to DBO has already black-topped and motorable in 2022–2023.[2]
Route & current status
The route is as follows.[9][6]
- Sasoma-Brangsa route:
- Sasoma-Saser La Road, 52.4 km:[9]
Cellular confinement systems (CCS), also known as geocells, are used in construction for erosion control and soil stabilization under glacial conditions.[6] In December 2023, road surfacing was in progress which was largely complete and the remaining small section will be completed during the next working season by May–June 2024 summer.[9]- Saser La Tunnel:[9] Planned, in DPR phase, see "future section" below.
- Saser La-Saser Brangsa Road, 16 km:[9]
In December 2023, road surfacing was in progress,[9] which will be completed by October 2024.[6]
- Sasoma-Saser La Road, 52.4 km:[9]
- Saser Brangsa Bridge, over the Shyok River:[9]
The 345-meter long bridge with 7 piers across the Shyok River is also known as the "River of Death" due to its violent currents and severe flooding during summers and monsoons. Thus, disrupting the construction. Hence, BRO has classified this road as "Hardness Index-III" project due to the challenges in construction.[6]
- Two branch routes from Saser Brangsa Bridge:[9]
The road splits into two branch from Saser Brangsa bridge, one going north to Gapshan-DBO and the other going southeast to Murgo junction of DSDBO road.[6]- Saser Brangsa-Murgo Road, 18 km:[9]
At Murgo, this road connects to DSDBO Road. In December 2023, the 10.5 km black-top surfacing was complete and remaining 7.5 km black-top surfacing was in progress.[9] - Saser Brangsa-DBO Road, 52 km:[9]
- Saser Brangsa-Gapshan Road, 41.97 km:[9]
Road connectivity achieved in October 2023, the formation cutting and surfacing was in progress in December 2023,[9] which will be completed by October 2024.[6] - Gapshan-DBO Road, 10 km:[6] At DBO, this road connects to DSDBO Road. It will be completed in 2024.[6]
- Saser Brangsa-Gapshan Road, 41.97 km:[9]
- Saser Brangsa-Murgo Road, 18 km:[9]
Future development
Saser La Tunnel
The 4 km long route over the Saser La to Saser Brangsa is made of concrete interlocking tiles. This route over the high pass gets closed during the winter snowfall. Hence, to provide the all-weather connectivity a tunnel is planned under the Saser La, the wildlife approval for which was already granted in April 2022.[3] In June 2023, the DPR (detailed project report) for it was being prepared.[2]
See also
- Tourist roads in Ladakh
- India-China Border Roads
- Line of Actual Control
- Sino-Indian border dispute
References
- ^ a b c Singh, Rahul; Choudhury, Sunetra (29 September 2023). "India moves to secure key flashpoint at LAC". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d Amid border row, Ladakh infra to gain heft with new strategic road to Depsang, DBO, The Tribune, 9 June 2023.
- ^ a b c d Alternate alignment to Daulat Beg Oldi Road gets wildlife board nod, Economic Times, 29 Apr 2022.
- ^ Singh, Rahul; Choudhury, Sunetra (9 June 2020). "India working on two roads in Ladakh amid border row". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ a b India working on two roads in Ladakh amid border row, Hindustan Times, 9 July 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k The BRO’s Mega Project in Eastern Ladakh: A New Road to Daulat Beg Oldi, The Diplomat, 6 October 2023.
- ^ "World's First Galciated Motorable Road Being Laid in Ladakh by BRO Amid Extreme Weather Conditions". CNN-News18. PTI. 18 November 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ "World's 'first' glaciated road coming up in Ladakh region of Kashmir". Greater Kashmir. 18 November 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Eye on China, new LAC road nears completion, The Tribune India, 23 Dec 2023.