The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has started working on the 135-km-long highway between Demchok and Chushul along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Ladakh sector to counter Chinese aggression. The BRO has invited bids for the construction of the highway. It will connect Chushul, Dungri, Fukche and Demchok. The highway is also known as the CDFD road.
It is slated to be built in the next two years. The CDFD road will run almost alongside the Indus River, reported India Infrahub. It will be very close to the LAC. So far, the route between Chushul and Demchoke is a dirt track.
Notably, CHusul is located south of Pangong lake, while Demchok is India‘s last inhabited village along the Zero line on the Indo-Sino border. The approval for the construction of the road was given by the then Jammu and Kashmir government in March 2016.
The project passes through Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary in the Union Territory. In 2107, the proposal to build the highway was recommended to the National Board of Wildlife (NBWI). In January 2017, the NBWI also gave its approval.
Two of the world-famous lakes – Pangong and Tsomorori – are located in the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary. The Detailed Project Report was completed by the BRO in 2018.
The new road will give a major boost to the capability of the Indian Armed Forces by ensuring the better movement of their logistics along the LAC. Indian and Chinese armies are currently engaged in the ongoing 32-month-long standoff in the Eatsren Ladakh sector.
