Ladakh’s Hanle-Chumar road opens at 17,200 feet: Key boost for Army, locals and tourists

The Hanle-Chumar road is expected to open new opportunities for tourism and trade, while also giving the Armed Forces quicker and safer access in sensitive areas.

In a major boost for India’s border infrastructure, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has opened the Hanle-Chumar road in Ladakh to the public. The 91-km road, built under Project Himank, links the high-altitude village of Hanle with the remote border settlement of Chumar along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Built at heights ranging from 14,500 to 17,200 feet and crossing the tough Salsa La Pass, the road is an engineering achievement in one of the world’s most difficult terrains. According to officials, it asserts India’s focus on improving border connectivity while supporting both defence and development needs.

As per the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI), the road will serve two key purposes -- strengthening the Armed Forces’ movement along the LAC and improving access for local residents and tourists.

“The Hanle-Chumar road is a significant achievement in strategic infrastructure development, enhancing border preparedness, connectivity, and socio-economic growth in Ladakh’s remote areas,” ADG PI said in a post on microblogging site X.

HANLE–CHUMAR ROAD OPENS FOR THE PUBLIC

A 91 km road connecting Hanle to the border village of Chumar constructed by #ProjectHimank of the Border Roads Organisation, #BRO has been opened for the Public in Ladakh. The route traverses extreme high altitudes from 14,500 to 17,200… pic.twitter.com/C9uNfLAiBg

— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) September 23, 2025

The road will also make it easier to reach well-known sites such as the Hanle Observatory, Kyun Tso Lake, Chilling Tso Lake, and Tso Moriri, helping boost tourism in the region.

The project is part of a wider effort to strengthen roads and bridges in eastern Ladakh after the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Recently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated 50 projects worth nearly Rs 947 crore across India, 16 of them in Ladakh under Project Himank and Project Vijayak.

These include eight key roads such as Tangtse-Lukung, Karu-Tangtse, Chusul-Dungti-Fukhe-Demchok, and Leh-Loma, along with six bridges like Kanglajal I & II and Domkhar Bridge. Other projects include an ammunition storage facility at Hanle and new road surfacing technology at Chang La and Wari La, aimed at improving durability in harsh weather.

The BRO has earlier set global records in high-altitude construction, including the Umling La road at 19,024 feet -- the world’s highest motorable road, higher than both Mount Everest base camps.

The Hanle-Chumar road is expected to open new opportunities for tourism and trade, while also giving the Armed Forces quicker and safer access in sensitive areas.

As per officials, the project shows India’s commitment to both securing its borders and improving the lives of people in remote areas. “The road is not just a strategic asset but also a lifeline for communities living in one of the harshest terrains in the country,” a defence source said.