Some progress has been achieved with the Government focusing on accelerating the construction work of the Ghatiabagadh-lipulekh Road as part of the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra route in Uttarakhand with connectivity being achieved up to 62 kilometre mark towards lipulekh and up to 29 kilometre towards Ghatiabagadh.
According to information provided by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Ministry of Defence is funding the construction of this 75.54 kilometres long road under the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
Work on this road is being undertaken from the zero kilometre mark at Ghatiabagadh and also from an air-maintained detachment at the 45 kilometre mark in Gunji in the State’s Pithoragarh district.
According to the information provided by the Government sources, the formation cutting from Ghatiabagadh has been started and reached up to 2.90 kilometre stone. Work on this stretch from zero kilometres to 10 kilometres was
outsourced during December 2015 with the contractor deploying various equipment for the work which is reported to be be underway.
The adjacent sector from 10 kilometre mark to the 20 kilometre mark had also been outsourced but work has
not yet started on this stretch due to non-connectivity of this stretch from either end. According to information provided by official sources, the formation cutting
from the 62 kilometre mark to 75.54 stone could not be
started earlier as the Army authority had directed
that work on this stretch be taken up once the connectivity is achieved from the Ghatibagadh end.
Preparatory works for this stretch were undertaken in March 2016 with the detail project report slated to be
initiated now.
In order to speed up the work on this road, a flat ground at Budhi (20
kilometre mark on Ghatibagadh-lipulekh road) with dimension of about 25 metres by 22 metres had been identified earlier.
The trial landing of an advanced light helicopter (AlH) was carried out during April 2016.
It is pertinent to mention here that while the Chinese authorities have developed infrastructure considerably close to the international
border with India, roads and related infrastructure on the Indian side in Uttarakhand is considerably less than the level achieved by the Chinese authorities on their side.
The completion of work on this strategically important road on the Kailash Mansarovar route is expected to not only boost infrastructure for national security and socio-economic activities but will also prove to be a
development affecting those undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra using the traditional pilgrimage route through Uttarakhand.