New Delhi, 7 December (H.S.): In a major boost to India’s border connectivity and military preparedness, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday inaugurated the Shyok Tunnel, a strategically vital structure built at an altitude of over 12,000 feet in Eastern Ladakh. The tunnel has been opened exclusively for the Indian Army, significantly enhancing access, speed, and safety along the Depsang–Daulat Beg Oldie sector near the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Located near the Shyok River region, the all-weather Shyok Tunnel forms a crucial part of the 322-km Darbuk–Shyok–Daulat Beg Oldie (DSDBO) Road, one of the Indian Army’s most critical logistic supply routes. The tunnel ensures continuous year-round connectivity to the LAC, which often remains cut off during harsh winters due to snow blockades and avalanches.

Built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the tunnel will allow uninterrupted movement of troops, arms, and logistics even in extreme weather conditions, strengthening India’s operational readiness against potential challenges along the China border.

Speaking at the inauguration, Rajnath Singh said the new tunnel marks a strategic leap in India’s defense infrastructure, especially after operations like Sindoor in Pahalgam, where strong logistics and connectivity played a decisive role.

“Our armed forces have shown not just strength, but remarkable restraint and discipline. Operation Sindoor succeeded because we could deliver logistics on time — a reflection of our solid border connectivity,” the minister emphasized.He also commended the BRO’s relentless work in some of the world’s toughest terrains, underlining that connectivity in border areas serves as the “spine of national security.”

Singh added, “Connectivity is not just about networks, optical fiber, drones, or radars; it is the lifeline of our defense, economy, mobility, and disaster preparedness.”Highlighting recent developmental strides in Ladakh, he referred to the inauguration of a 200-kilowatt green hydrogen-based microgrid power plant at the Chanakya Defence Dialogue, calling it a sustainable step toward energy security in remote border regions.

Rajnath Singh further praised the cooperation between the armed forces, civilian administration, and border residents during critical military operations, describing it as a model of national unity and resilience.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar