New Delhi, Oct 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday virtually inaugurated development projects worth around Rs 3,350 crore in Ladakh, including a new passenger terminal at Leh airport, a strategic road linking the Union Territory with Himachal Pradesh, and infrastructure aimed to improve power supply and water security.
The projects also include a conservation park for prehistoric rock art and a small hydropower facility, according to an official statement.
The new passenger terminal at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh has been built at a cost of Rs 640 crore. Spread across 23,800 square metres, the terminal is designed to handle 35 lakh passengers annually.
The facility incorporates geothermal energy to improve energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint, an important consideration in Ladakh’s ecologically sensitive environment. It also combines modern passenger amenities with elements of the region’s cultural heritage.
PM Modi also dedicated the 298-km Nimmu-Padum-Darcha Road to the nation. Constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the road connects Nimmu in Leh with Darcha in Himachal Pradesh through the remote Zanskar Valley.
The route provides an alternative connectivity corridor to Ladakh, supplementing the existing Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh highways. Passing through difficult Himalayan terrain, including the high-altitude Shinkun La Pass, the road is expected to improve logistical support for the armed forces and facilitate movement in the strategically important region.
It is also expected to improve access to healthcare, education, markets and other essential services for residents of Zanskar.
“Today, another chapter is being added to Ladakh’s progress and development. I am happy to be part of this occasion through technology. Several important development projects have been inaugurated in Ladakh today,” Modi said.
The projects, he said, would make travel easier, improve electricity facilities in some areas, increase water availability in others and strengthen the preservation of the region’s ancient heritage.
As part of efforts to improve energy security, Modi inaugurated the 9 MW Hanu small hydroelectric project and the 66 kV double-circuit Dah-Hanu-Khaltsi transmission line.
The two projects are aimed at strengthening power evacuation infrastructure and improving the reliability of Ladakh’s electricity network while helping harness the region’s hydropower potential.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated India’s first Petroglyph Conservation Park at Sindhu Ghat in Leh, an initiative aimed at preserving the region’s prehistoric rock art.
Ladakh is home to hundreds of prehistoric rock art sites featuring carvings of animals, human figures and symbolic representations that provide insights into thousands of years of human history.
In another initiative, Modi inaugurated 40 water bodies developed across 40 villages under Project Him Sarovar. The project seeks to address water scarcity and improve conservation in a region where agriculture depends heavily on seasonal snowmelt and glacial runoff.
Farmers in Ladakh often face shortages during the crucial sowing season, despite the availability of substantial water resources during other periods. Project Him Sarovar aims to conserve water when it is available and ensure its availability when required, supporting irrigation and agricultural livelihoods.
The initiative is aligned with the objectives of Mission Amrit Sarovar and is intended to strengthen long-term water security in the region, the statement said.
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