In a major boon to the Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrims and border areas of Uttrakhand, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday inaugurated an 80-km road link there by flagging off a convoy of vehicles. The new road constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) will reduce the time of the holy yatra by at least ten to 12 days apart from giving a boost to development in the region. The important road link is from Dharcula (Uttrakhand) to Lipulekh (China border) in Pithoragarh region.
Opening the road through video-conferencing, Rajnath said here the Centre and the PM have a special vision for the development of remote areas.
Singh said with the completion of this crucial road link, the decades old dreams and aspirations of local people and pilgrims have been fulfilled. He expressed confidence that local trade and economic growth in the region would receive a boost with the operationalisation of this roadway.
Recalling that pilgrimage to Kailash-Manasarovar is sacred and revered by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains, the Minister said with the completion of this road link, the yatra could be completed in one week compared to two-three weeks it took earlier. The road originates from Ghatiabagarh and terminates at Lipulekh Pass, the gateway to Kailash-Mansarovar.
In this 80 kilometre road, the altitude rises from 6,000 to 17,060 feet. With the completion of this project, the arduous trek through treacherous high-altitude terrain can now be avoided by the pilgrims of Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra. At present, the travel to Kailash-Mansarovar takes around two to three weeks through Sikkim or Nepal routes. Lipulekh route had a trek of 90 km through high altitude terrain and the elderly yatris faced lot of difficulties.
The other two road ways via Sikkim and Nepal entailed approximately 20 per cent land journeys on Indian roads and 80 per cent land journeys in China. With the opening of Ghatiabgarh-Lipulekh road, this ratio has been reversed. Now, pilgrims to Mansarovar will traverse 84 per cent land journeys on Indian roads and only 16 per cent land journeys in China. This is truly historic, commented Singh.
The event was attended by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, Army Chief General M M Naravane, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, Lok Sabha Member of Parliament from Almora (Uttarakhand) Ajay Tamta and senior officials of the Ministry of Defence and the BRO.