Ganderbal, Mar 18: The 434 km long Srinagar-Leh highway is set to open next week, as the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Project Vijayak have reached Zero Point Zojila and completed snow clearance on both sides of the highway, according to an official statement released on Monday.
The statement stated that the BRO and Project Vijayak, responsible for maintaining the Srinagar-Leh highway, completed the snow clearance task on Saturday, as the highway experienced heavier snowfall compared to last year.
The Srinagar-Leh road has been closed since February due to heavy snow accumulation, especially at Sonamarg, Zojila Pass, Zero Point, Gumri, Matayan, Drass, and Meenmarg areas along the road.
A BRO official mentioned that the stretch from Zojila to Matayan Drass is in a heavy avalanche zone, presenting a daily challenge for the snow clearance team. However, despite the difficulties, both BRO and Project Vijayak persevered and successfully reached Zero Point, known for its heavy avalanche risk.
Dr. Jaffer, Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil, inspected the snow clearance work at Zojila Pass and noted significant progress in road clearance. He praised the dedicated efforts of the BRO team, along with Project Vijayak, stating that the pass is expected to be connected within two days.
