Kashmir Impulse Desk
New Delhi, Oct 14
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate or dedicate five development projects worth about Rs 3350 crore in Ladakh on Thursday, covering transport links, electricity infrastructure, water conservation and cultural heritage, the government said.
The projects will be launched through video conferencing at about 12:30 pm, and Modi will address the gathering, according to the announcement.
The package includes a new passenger terminal at Leh airport, the 298-km Nimmu-Padum-Darcha road, a small hydropower project and transmission line, India’s first petroglyph conservation park, and 40 water bodies developed under Project Him Sarovar.
The new terminal at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport has been built at a cost of Rs 64 cropre.
Spread across 23,800 square metres, it is designed to handle 35 lakh passengers annually.
The facility incorporates geothermal energy to improve efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint, while its design combines modern passenger amenities with elements of Ladakh’s cultural heritage.
Modi will also dedicate the Nimmu-Padum-Darcha road, built by the Border Roads Organisation.
The 298-km route links Nimmu in Leh with Darcha in Himachal Pradesh through the remote Zanskar Valley, providing an alternative corridor to the Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh highways.
The road crosses difficult Himalayan terrain, including the high-altitude Shinkun La Pass.
It is expected to improve logistical support for the armed forces and provide Zanskar residents with better access to healthcare, education, markets and essential services.
The energy component includes the 9-megawatt Hanu Small Hydroelectric Project and a 66-kilovolt double-circuit transmission line connecting Dah, Hanu and Khaltsi.
The projects are intended to improve power supply reliability and strengthen the region’s ability to use its hydropower resources.
Modi will inaugurate a petroglyph conservation park at Sindhu Ghat in Leh to protect ancient rock carvings depicting wildlife, human figures and symbolic representations.
The carvings provide evidence of the region’s long human history, while the park is intended to support conservation, public awareness and responsible heritage tourism.
The fifth initiative involves 40 water bodies developed across 40 villages under Project Him Sarovar, which aims to improve water availability for agriculture.
Ladakh faces seasonal imbalances between water supply and demand, with farmers often experiencing shortages during sowing despite the availability of snowmelt and glacial runoff at other times of the year.
The initiative seeks to store water when supplies are available and make it accessible when needed, supporting irrigation, agricultural livelihoods and long-term water security.
