Shinkun La Tunnel

Recently BRO officials said that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is set to complete the construction of road in Uttarakhand to boost connectivity to forward areas near the China border even as it prepares to begin work on the Shinku La tunnel (the world’s highest) to provide all-weather connectivity from Manali to Leh via the Nimmu-Padam-Darcha axis.

About the Shinkun La Tunnel:

1. Location: Shinkun La Tunnel will be a motorable tunnel that will pass under the Shinkun-La Pass, a massive mountain pass located at an altitude of 16,580 feet. It will connect Lahaul Valley in Himachal Pradesh to Zanskar Valley in Ladakh.
2. Length: The length of the tunnel will be approximately 4.1 kilometers.
3. Significance: Upon completion, the Shinku-la tunnel will become the longest high-altitude highway tunnel in the world, surpassing existing records.
4. Construction: The Border Roads Organization (BRO) will undertake the construction of the tunnel at a cost of Rs. 1,681.5 crores.
5. Connectivity: The tunnel will provide all-weather road connectivity to Ladakh, serving as the shortest route to the border areas of the region.
6. Strategic Importance: The Shinkun La Tunnel will streamline transportation of heavy machinery to strategic locations like Kargil, Siachen and the Line of Control (LOC), reducing the travel distance by about 100 kilometres.
7. Security Considerations: The tunnel's construction will ensure the safety of traffic movement, as it will not be vulnerable to long-range artillery shelling or missile firings by neighboring countries.

Key Facts about the Border Roads Organisation (BRO):

1. Role: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is a specialized road construction force in India that provides crucial support to the Indian Armed Forces.
2. Establishment: BRO was formed on May 7, 1960, with the primary objective of securing India's borders and developing infrastructure in remote areas of the northern and northeastern states.
3. Road Network Development: The organization is responsible for developing and maintaining road networks in India's border areas and friendly neighbouring countries.
4. Geographic Scope: BRO's operations cover 19 states and three union territories in India, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Additionally, it carries out infrastructure projects in neighbouring countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Tajikistan, and Sri Lanka.
5. Personnel: Officers and personnel from the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) constitute the parent cadre of the BRO. The organization is also staffed by officers and troops drawn from the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army on extra regimental employment.
6. Integration with Armed Forces: BRO is included in the Order of Battle of the Armed Forces, ensuring their support at any time.
7. Motto: The motto of the Border Roads Organisation is "Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam," which translates to "everything is achievable through hard work."

Line of Control (LOC):

1. The Line of Control (LOC) is a geographical line that separates the Indian and Pakistani controlled parts of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir.
2. It was established after the Simla Agreement signed in July 1972 and serves as a de facto boundary between the 2 countries.

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