Srinagar: Within just 73 days of closing it during winter this year, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) created a record by opening the Zoji La Pass for the traffic today. This is the first time BRO has been able to achieve the feat, after it had kept the pass open till January 05, 2022, through relentless snow clearance operations amidst tough weather conditions. Usually, the Pass remains closed for around 160-180 days during winters on account of heavy snowfall.
The Zoji La Pass is the gateway between Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh road at 11,650 feet. The BRO said that since February 15, 2022, it had undertaken the snow clearance operations from both sides of the pass under Project Beacon and Vijayak, located in J&K and Ladakh respectively. “After sustained efforts, the connectivity across Zoji La Pass was initially established on March 04, 2022,” it said and informed that thereafter, efforts were made to improve the road conditions to create a safe passage of vehicles.
The first convoy of vehicles carrying essential fresh supplies moved across the Zoji La Pass and reached Kargil bringing much-needed relief to the people of Ladakh. Various dignitaries from civil administration and the Indian Army, including Director General Border Roads (DGBR) Lieutenant General Rajeev Chaudhry, were present during the re-opening of the pass.
Lauding the efforts of Project Beacon and Vijayak, the DGBR said, the early opening of Zoji La Pass will not only bolster the defence preparedness of the country but will also facilitate the movement of essential commodities to the people of Ladakh. He added that the opening of the pass will assist BRO to stock the material required for the construction of important infrastructure projects in Ladakh. He reiterated BRO’s commitment to be at the forefront in Nation Building.
– global bihari bureau
