India's strategic road near China border to cut Army's travel time from 2 days to 12 hours

The new project won't be easy for the Chinese to track, compared to the existing road that runs parallel to the LAC

India has fast tracked a new route to the strategic Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) sector in eastern Ladakh and it will be ready by next year, providing a strategic boost to the country’s border infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), a report by India Today said on July 21.

The new 130-km road, which will pass through Sasoma-Saser La-Saser Brangsa-Gapshan-DBO, will significantly cut down the distance between Leh and the key military outpost by 79 km, bringing down the travel from two days to 12 hours, the report said.

The construction of the project, which is being built by the Border Roads Organisation, was stepped up after India’s border clash with China in Galwan Valley in 2020.

Significantly, the new project won't be easy for the Chinese to track, compared to the existing road that runs parallel to the LAC, TOI said citing defence sources.

Boost for Army

The new road will provide a much-needed alternative to the strategically important sector, connecting the Depsang plains, Sasoma in Nubra Valley and Saser Brangsawhere to DBO sector. As of now, the DBO is equipped with one advanced landing ground (ALG) at a height of 16,614 feet and is very close to the Karakoram Pass, the Line of Actual Control and the China-Occupied Aksai Chin.

A report by the Times of India said 60-70 percent of the road has been completed and the rest is likely to be finished around October or November 2026.

The new road will significantly improve army’s movement of its soldiers, weapons and other equipment, the report said. It will also have the capacity to move heavy vehicles and artillery weighing up to 70 tonnes, proving a major boost to the armed forces.

Moreover, the government is also planning a seven-km tunnel under Saser La at a height of 17,660 feet for all-weather connectivity.

The project is also considered a engineering marvel as the terrain and extreme weather conditions make the construction of such roads dangerously challenging.