BRO Scripts History in Ladakh; Surpasses Its Own Guinness World Record For Highest Motorable Road

BRO Scripts History in Ladakh; Surpasses Its Own Guinness World Record For Highest Motorable Road

Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has again made history in Ladakh by constructing the highest motorable road in the world. Project Himank saw the organisation work on the Likaru-Mig La-Fukche road, which was at the time the highest road in the world at 19,400 feet, beating its own record at Umling La Pass at 19,024 feet.

It is not only the height that has been achieved but also the strategic importance. The third axis, which was constructed recently between the Hanle region and Fukche, a border village along the Line of Actual Control, is critical. The BRO has made the region one of the most inaccessible in the entirety of Ladakh more accessible, enhancing logistics and border preparedness and providing a lifeline to the local population that is isolated during extreme winters.

The building at such an extreme altitude is an amazing feat of engineering. The crew had to deal with unpredictable weather, freezing temperatures, scarcity of oxygen and unreliable terrain, yet was able to finish the work by sheer will and technical know-how. The national flag was raised on top of the Mig La Pass by the BRO team, headed by Chief Engineer Brigadier Vishal Srivastava, as a bit of an accomplishment and national pride.

BRO has a history of high-altitude infrastructure and is growing. Of all the number of the greatest motorable passes in the world, most of them are constructed by the organisation. The new record at Mig La contributes to this unparalleled track record, which served to demonstrate once again the capabilities of India in mountain engineering and the durability in the adverse environment.

The road is also of economic and cultural importance in addition to its military and strategic value. It is anticipated that, with greater connectivity the tourism will increase as more people are willing to explore the rugged terrain of Ladakh, the scenic Indus Valley and get a chance to road test the highest road on earth. Villages bordering the line will also gain positively through development into better access to essential supplies, healthcare and trade.

This is more than a Guinness World Record. It is a combination of engineering and excellence, national security interests, and local development. By dominating some of the most challenging landscapes in the world, the BRO has again proved itself to be a frontier-cutter and a path to prosperity for the remote Himalayan areas.