Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and dedicate to the nation five major development projects worth approximately Rs 3,350 crore in Ladakh on Thursday, October 15, including a new passenger terminal at Leh airport and a strategically important road connecting the Union Territory with Himachal Pradesh.
The Prime Minister will launch the projects through video conferencing at around 12.30 pm and address a gathering on the occasion, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday. The initiatives cover airport infrastructure, strategic road connectivity, hydropower generation, electricity transmission, archaeological conservation and water security, with the government seeking to strengthen essential infrastructure in the strategically important Himalayan region. In a post on X, Modi said the projects would improve connectivity, accelerate development, preserve Ladakh's cultural heritage and enhance the quality of life of residents.
๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ต ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ผ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฑ ๐น๐ฎ๐ธ๐ต ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ๐
Among the major projects is the new passenger terminal building at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh, constructed at a cost of Rs 640 crore. Spread over 23,800 square metres, the modern facility has been designed to accommodate 35 lakh passengers annually, substantially expanding the airport's capacity to handle growing passenger traffic.
The terminal incorporates geothermal energy systems to improve energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint, reflecting the need for environmentally sustainable infrastructure in Ladakh's ecologically sensitive landscape. The building also combines modern passenger amenities with architectural elements inspired by Ladakh's cultural heritage. Officials said the upgraded terminal would improve passenger convenience, strengthen air connectivity with the rest of the country and support the region's tourism industry.
๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ต
The Prime Minister will also dedicate the 298-km Nimmu-Padum-Darcha Road, constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The road connects Nimmu in Leh with Darcha in Himachal Pradesh through the remote Zanskar Valley, providing an alternative connectivity corridor to Ladakh alongside the existing Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh highways.
Passing through challenging Himalayan terrain, including the high-altitude Shinkun La Pass, the road is considered strategically important for improving military mobility and logistical support for the armed forces. The government said the new route would strengthen the movement of personnel, equipment and essential supplies in the border region. For residents of Zanskar, the road is expected to improve access to healthcare, educational institutions, markets and essential services, while creating opportunities for tourism and economic activity.
๐๐๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐บ๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ท๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ด๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐
As part of efforts to improve electricity infrastructure, Modi will inaugurate the 9 MW Hanu Small Hydroelectric Project and the 66 kV Double-Circuit Dah-Hanu-Khaltsi Transmission Line. The projects are intended to strengthen power evacuation infrastructure and improve the reliability of electricity supply across the region.
The hydropower facility will help harness Ladakh's renewable energy resources, while the transmission line will support more efficient distribution of electricity. The initiatives are particularly significant for remote settlements where difficult terrain and extreme weather conditions create challenges for maintaining reliable power infrastructure.
๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ'๐ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐น๐๐ฝ๐ต ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐๐ผ ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ต
The Prime Minister will inaugurate India's first Petroglyph Conservation Park at Sindhu Ghat in Leh, marking an initiative to protect Ladakh's prehistoric archaeological heritage. The region contains hundreds of ancient rock art sites featuring carvings of animals, human figures and symbolic representations, offering insights into thousands of years of human habitation and cultural development.
The conservation park will provide a dedicated facility for protecting these archaeological remains from environmental damage and human interference. Officials said the project would also promote public awareness about Ladakh's cultural history and encourage responsible heritage tourism.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ด๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐
Another major initiative involves the inauguration of 40 water bodies developed across 40 villages under Project Him Sarovar. The programme seeks to address water scarcity in Ladakh, where agricultural communities face significant challenges because of seasonal variations in water availability.
Although snowmelt and glacial runoff provide substantial water resources during certain periods, farmers frequently experience shortages during the crucial sowing season. The project aims to conserve water when supplies are available and ensure its use during periods of agricultural demand. Aligned with the objectives of Mission Amrit Sarovar, the initiative is expected to strengthen irrigation facilities, support agricultural livelihoods and improve long-term water security.
The inauguration of the five projects comes amid continued efforts to expand infrastructure in Ladakh, where geographical isolation, extreme climatic conditions and strategic security requirements have historically posed major development challenges. The government expects the combined investments to improve civilian connectivity, strengthen defence logistics, expand access to essential services and support sustainable economic development across the Union Territory.