Insight into North-East Border Areas & Infrastructure - Youtube, Satellite & Media

Tanmay

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Here is a couple who undertook the journeyy from Darcha to Padum via Shinku La Pass on the new road

The road is a mud road which can be crossed with 4x4 . Rivers/ Stream crossing is required as there is no bridge or road over some portions yet.





 

Tanmay

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A video showing the construction of Col. Col Chewang Rinchen Bridge
Do note that the video doesnt include the completed bridge, just the pillars are shown. The bridge you see in video are temporary construction bridges or old bridges of lower weight capacity

You can see the older/temporary bridges on th right hand side of the pic below. There are two older bridges and an island sort of structure. The new bridge is a single long sructure.



Video mentions that Col. Col Chewang Rinchen Bridge is Class 70R bridge meaning it can carry 70 tonne vehicle .(considering DBO will host armoured tanks and BMPs)

 
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Akula

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Here is a couple who undertook the journeyy from Darcha to Padum via Shinku La Pass on the new road

The road is a mud road which can be crossed with 4x4 . Rivers/ Stream crossing is required as there is no bridge or road over some portions yet.





Following him since his first vlog.
 

Tanmay

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View attachment 55440

There are three ways to reach Kargil now. The first two are highways

1) Jammu - Srinagar - Kargil [Zoji La pass]
2) Manali - Leh - Kargil [Rohtang Pass - Baralacha Pass - Lunglacha Pass - Taglang Pass]
3 ) Manali - Darcha - Padum - Kargil [Shinku La - Penci La]

Zoji La Pass is getting a tunnel (Zoji La Tunnel + Z-Morh Tunnel) by 2026.

Rohtang Pass is getting an all weather tunnel (Atal Tunnel) but Leh- Manali highway WILL NOT be an all weather road as Baralacha Pass and other Passes will still be snow covered.


I will cover the third road here Manali - Darcha - Padum - Kargil road

Padum is a town of Zanskar valley tehsil. It had connectivity to Kargil via Penci La Pass. But for the Buddhist population connectivity to Himachal Pradesh was much desired. Going to Himachal Pradesh meant a detour of almost 600 km!! (Padum - Kargil - Leh - Manali)


So a new road is being built via Shinku La Pass (also called Shingo La Pass) to Darcha ( in Himachal Pradesh)

The Darcha-Shinkula-Zanskar route receives less snowfall and can be an easier all-weather approach to Ladakh in winter, say BRO engineers. The BRO has already started work from the Darcha side as this project was conceived much earlier, along with the 8.82-km-long Rohtang tunnel that will connect Lahaul with the Kullu valley permanently, they say. (Link)

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/himachal/3rd-access-to-kargil-via-manali-671859

DARCHA:Almost two decades after Kargil came into limelight following a limited conflict with Pakistan over intruders transgressing the Line of Control, the strategically important town in Jammu and Kashmir has got a third axis of approach via Manali.




https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/a...s-planned-under-baralacha-shinkula-pass-18126

An update to above post. Its still in planning stage probably a decade away

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/a...s-planned-under-baralacha-shinkula-pass-18126




 

Tanmay

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Another important project is the 4 laning of Kiratpur - Manali Highway..

It will help expand the capacity of the roads and help Army units to reach Rohtang Tunnel/ Pass faster.
It will have around

01.JPG


https://www.business-standard.com/a...ng-prosperity-to-himachal-117060800599_1.html

The sub- projects of this project include
  • Kiratpur-Nerchowk,
  • Nerchowk-Pandoh,
  • Pandoh Bypass -Takoli
  • Takoli-Kullu
  • Kullu-Manali.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...ect-irks-himachal-hc/articleshow/69104872.cms

https://www.thestatesman.com/cities...pur-nerchowk-national-highway-1502844082.html

The progress is very slow due to Land Acquisition.

10 tunnels are also being built



 

Bhadra

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Here is a couple who undertook the journeyy from Darcha to Padum via Shinku La Pass on the new road

The road is a mud road which can be crossed with 4x4 . Rivers/ Stream crossing is required as there is no bridge or road over some portions yet.





I welcome this thread...
Thank you Tanmay ..
This road is now a BRO project to provide all-weather connectivity between Manali = Padum - Kargil and Leh... double lane road likely to finish by next year-end.
 
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Tanmay

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We have already seen news of new bridges being constructed at JK, Leh etc

These are actually new concrete bridges which can carry 70 tonnes unlike the temporary bailey bridges which could carry only 24 tonnes.

 

Tanmay

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https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...xt-3-months/story-4F8RpuP0bHVlfz05OI8egP.html
India has also been working on alternative route if the DBO road is cut off, through Saser La, Saser Brangsa, Murgo, and Gapshan. Work on this route is proceeding at pace, the officials said.
03.JPG


Clearly the alternate Road to DBO is via Shyok river
DSDBO Road = Pink
Alternate road = Yellow
Shyok River = Blue
Chip Chap river = Cyan
LAC = Red

Orange & Brown roads = Under construction as seen from Google Earth

04.JPG
 

Tanmay

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View attachment 55440

There are three ways to reach Kargil now. The first two are highways

1) Jammu - Srinagar - Kargil [Zoji La pass]
2) Manali - Leh - Kargil [Rohtang Pass - Baralacha Pass - Lunglacha Pass - Taglang Pass]
3 ) Manali - Darcha - Padum - Kargil [Shinku La - Penci La]

Zoji La Pass is getting a tunnel (Zoji La Tunnel + Z-Morh Tunnel) by 2026.

Rohtang Pass is getting an all weather tunnel (Atal Tunnel) but Leh- Manali highway WILL NOT be an all weather road as Baralacha Pass and other Passes will still be snow covered.


I will cover the third road here Manali - Darcha - Padum - Kargil road

Padum is a town of Zanskar valley tehsil. It had connectivity to Kargil via Penci La Pass. But for the Buddhist population connectivity to Himachal Pradesh was much desired. Going to Himachal Pradesh meant a detour of almost 600 km!! (Padum - Kargil - Leh - Manali)


So a new road is being built via Shinku La Pass (also called Shingo La Pass) to Darcha ( in Himachal Pradesh)

The Darcha-Shinkula-Zanskar route receives less snowfall and can be an easier all-weather approach to Ladakh in winter, say BRO engineers. The BRO has already started work from the Darcha side as this project was conceived much earlier, along with the 8.82-km-long Rohtang tunnel that will connect Lahaul with the Kullu valley permanently, they say. (Link)

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/himachal/3rd-access-to-kargil-via-manali-671859

DARCHA:Almost two decades after Kargil came into limelight following a limited conflict with Pakistan over intruders transgressing the Line of Control, the strategically important town in Jammu and Kashmir has got a third axis of approach via Manali.




https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/a...s-planned-under-baralacha-shinkula-pass-18126
I read Vats Rohit twitter thread, and he has written that there are more roads. Read the entire thread


Original List
1) Jammu - Srinagar - Kargil [Zoji La pass]
2) Manali - Leh - Kargil [Rohtang Pass - Baralacha Pass - Lunglacha Pass - Taglang Pass]
3 ) Manali - Darcha - Padum - Kargil [Shinku La pass - Penci La pass]

New Additions
4 ) Padum -Zangla - Nerak -Photoksar - Khalsi - Leh [ Sengge La pass - Sisir La Pass]
5) Padum -Zangla - Nerak - Nimoo - Leh (No Passes !!!)

From google earth its clear that Padum - Nimoo Road has no passes and same thnig was sai by Rohit Vats. Theroetically it could remain open 365 days.

Only ShinkuLa Pass needs to be tunneled.
01.JPG
 

Tanmay

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Continued from above

We will cover this road from a tour vlog and see road condition in 2019

4 ) Padum -Zangla - Nerak -Photoksar - Khalsi - Leh [ Sengge La pass - Sisir La Pass]

A biker decided to travel on this road. See map below
Leh - Khalsi - Wanla - Sisir La Pass - Photoksar - Sengge La Pass - Yulchung - Lingshed

[Yalchung- Nerak - Zangla - Padum IS NOT covered]

Road is marked in Red Color

01.JPG


Zoomed in for details (Man on Horse is Mountain Pass)
01.JPG





Skipped the Leh to Lamaryu Part. Video directly starts from Wanla village entry

6:58 = Wanla road turn
8:08 : Wanla Village
12:18 = Hanupatta Village
13:10 = Sisir La Pass (He mistakes it as Sengge La Pass) approx (50km) 2.5 hours from Wanla village to reach there
15:27 = Photoksar
21:24 = Sengge La Pass (aka Singi La/ Shengge La)
22:08 = Yalchung village BRO camp
Video ends


Basically entire road is offroad but bike can travel. Road is not tarred.
 

Tanmay

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Continued from above

This coveres Yalchung - Lingshed Part

17:12 onwards Monk says it took 5 day trek to reach Lamaryu from Lingshed.

From google earth : No road existed at Photoksar on 2011. Road cutting appears in 2012
Yalchung road is prominent 2014 onwards.

 

Tanmay

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The same journey is repeated but in reverse from Lingshed to Leh


1:21= Lingshed Helipad
Lingshed Helipad = 33°54'18.94"N 76°49'50.73"E
Helipad marked 'H'
01.JPG
 

Tanmay

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A small stretch marked in yellow (from ? to ? )has no road visible on google earth or videos.
If that stretch is complete the entire road should be done. So Padum could be directly connectced to Leh.

Ofcourse road widening and blacktopping is still not done. Formation cutting seems done.



01.JPG
 

Tanmay

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https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1578092

Out of the total length of 297 Km, connectivity has been achieved in256.72 Km in various portions. The present status of Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road is given below:

· Connected Portions

  • Km 0 to Km 47.00
  • Km 77.78 to Km 79.50
  • Km 89.00 to Km 297.00
  • Unconnected Portions
  • Km 47.00 to Km 77.78
  • Ø Km 79.50 to Km 89.00
The estimated cost is Rs. 2276.13 crores. The work on this road commenced in 2002 and is likely to be completed by 2025. [LOL!! looks like I should stop tracking this road for now]

The project is funded by Ministry of Defence (Capital outlay on Defence Services). The reasons for delay in completion are given below:

· Hard rock stretches.

  • Limited working season.
  • Limited availability of labour.
 

Tanmay

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A new road is being contructed in Laddakh

Phobrang to Gogra-Hot Spring Road

Length : 75 km approx
Important Passes : Marsimik La Pass


Phobrang is just 10 km from Lukung / Pangang Tso Lake area. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had visited Lukung and interacted with troops there
01.JPG



https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...ladakh-road-projects/articleshow/76347531.cms

The 3,500 labourers will also be working on the construction of five important roads leading to the LAC, which are also being made by the BRO. They are Phobrang-Masmikla road, Masmikla-Hot Springs road, Chisumle-Demchok road, Koyul-Photile-Chisumle-Zurasar road and Hanle-Photile road.
While media is showing as if the road is being constructed just now, the actual construction started well before 2010 atleast. But progress seems to be very very slow

Lets have a look just near Phobrang


2004 : Just a dirt track with tyre marks
02.JPG



2004 : Some road cutting happens. Notice the blue circle with a rectangular protrusion on ground
03.JPG


2013 : More road widening
04.JPG



2017 : Black topping started. Blue circle is the parking or turning space.

But just 02 km road (out of 75km total) from Phobrang was blacktopped as of 2017
05.JPG



Current status as per media report is in below tweet. No satellite imagery after 2017


Just before Gogra, the road splits into two parts. One part goes left over the river Chang Chenmo

2010 : No road over river
02.JPG



2015: Temporary bridge (approx 800m) like structure to cross the riverr


1598811178687.png


03.JPG
 
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Tanmay

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Continued from above post:

The bridge like structure leads to an under contruction road on another hill.

The hill seems to be in he midst of process of fortification as of 2018. Bunker type stuff with trenches seem to be freshly made and are not seen in previous satellite imagery.

The peak of the hill is 16200feet while the usual terrain around it is 15200 feet.
It pretty much guards the entrance to Indian side from China from Chang Chemo river and Gogra post.

The hill is interesting. Something spooked us out of inactivity to hectic construction post 2017-18. Probaly the previous transgressions or incursions of the Chinis .
 
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Tanmay

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Status of Manali - Darcha - Padum - Leh road




Good news is that entire 300km road is supposed to be a proper 2 lane road

As of 2017.
Out of 300km road

212 km has been connected (road cutting, 4x4 type road or dirt road)
30 km is two laned
100 km is one laned

90 km was yet to be dug/blasted


1598947414689.png
 

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