The world’s highest motorable road has been constructed in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmire. The raod sits at 19,300 feet and passes through Umlingla Top. As reported, this feat was completed by BRO (Border Roads Organisation) under ‘Project Himank’.
The 86km long road is close to Hanle and strategically connects Chisumle and Demchok village which are only a stone’s throw away from the Indo-China border in the eastern sector.
Chief Engineer of project Himank, Brigadier D M Purvimath said that constructing the road at the altitude of over 19,300 feet was full of life threatening challenges and the climate is always adverse for construction activities.
"During peak summers, temperature hovers around minus 10-20 degrees Celsius, and in winters, it dips to minus 40 degrees. Oxygen level at the altitude is 50 per cent less than at normal places," Mr Purvimath said.
According to the Brigadier, logistics was another major challenge at such an altitude.
"Taking equipment at such a height, repairing and maintaining it is a major task since equipment face a lot of breakdowns," he said.
Mr Purvimath said because of this gradation, the personnel faced serious health problems like loss of memory, eyesight and high blood pressure. It is said that the BRO personnel were acclimatised through a tedious process and lot of training before being assigned to the job.
The Project Himank has already constructed roads like Khardangu La at an altitude of 17,900 ft and Changla Pass at 17,695 ft in Leh by connecting Nobra valley and Durbuk valley in the cold desert.
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