SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated five development projects worth around Rs 3,350 crore in Ladakh through a virtual event, with initiatives spanning water conservation, power infrastructure, heritage preservation, airport facilities and strategic road connectivity.
The projects include 40 water bodies developed across 40 villages under Project Him Sarovar, aimed at improving water conservation in a region where agricultural demand often peaks during periods of limited water availability.
The initiative, aligned with the objectives of Mission Amrit Sarovar, seeks to store water during periods of availability and make it accessible when required. Farmers in Ladakh frequently face shortages during the sowing season despite the availability of snowmelt and glacial runoff at other times of the year, an official statement said.
Modi also inaugurated India’s first Petroglyph Conservation Park at Sindhu Ghat in Leh to protect Ladakh’s ancient archaeological heritage. The region contains hundreds of prehistoric rock art sites bearing carvings of wildlife, human figures and symbolic representations that provide insights into thousands of years of human history.
In the power sector, the Prime Minister inaugurated the 9 MW Hanu small hydroelectric project and the 66 kV double-circuit Dah-Hanu-Khaltsi transmission line. The projects are expected to strengthen electricity transmission infrastructure, improve network reliability and help harness Ladakh’s hydropower potential.
A major transport project dedicated to the nation was the 298-km Nimmu-Padum-Darcha Road, constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Connecting Nimmu in Leh with Darcha in Himachal Pradesh through Zanskar Valley, the road provides an alternative route to Ladakh alongside the Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh highways, the official statement said.
Passing through difficult Himalayan terrain, including the high-altitude Shinkun La Pass, the road is expected to improve logistical support and operational mobility for the armed forces. It will also facilitate access to healthcare, education, markets and other essential services for people living in Zanskar, the statement added.
The development package also includes a new passenger terminal at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh, built at a cost of Rs 640 crore. Covering 23,800 square metres, the terminal has an annual passenger-handling capacity of 35 lakh, officials said.
The terminal uses geothermal energy to improve efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint. Its design combines modern passenger facilities with elements of Ladakh’s cultural heritage, with officials expecting it to improve passenger convenience and strengthen air links with the rest of the country.
Speaking at the virtual inauguration, Modi said the projects would make travel easier, improve electricity facilities in some areas, increase water availability in others and contribute to the preservation of Ladakh’s ancient heritage.
