Srinagar, Nov 2 : In yet another feat to its list of achievements, the Border Roads Organization (BRO) has constructed the world’s highest motorable road at a height of over 19,300 feet in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir.

“The 86-km-long strategic road connecting Chisumle and Demchok villages, about 230 km from Leh, was constructed under Project Himank of the organization. These villages are near India-China border in eastern sector,” a BRO official said.
“It was not an easy task to construct road at a height of over 19,300 feet. But over coming various challenges, including climate which was adverse for the construction activities, the BRO has able to achieve yet another mile stone,” he added.
Temperature during summer season remains at 10 to 20 degree while in winter it drops to minus 40 degree, he said, adding the Oxygen levels are also very low in the region due to high altitude making it difficult to work.
“The work environment so harsh that the machine operators have to take a break every 10 minutes to use oxygen cylinders to keep up with depleting oxygen level in the body. Besides this getting equipment and construction material to such a height was also a major task,” he said.
Asserting that such a construction doesn’t come without a cost, he said some personnel even faced serious health problems, including loss of eyesight and memory, due to the low oxygen levels while constructing the road.
He said the men working on the project were acclimatised through a tedious process and trained before being assigned the job.
The BRO has already constructed roads like Khardangu La at an altitude of 17,900 ft and Changla Pass at 17,695 ft in Leh by connecting Nobra valley and Durbuk valley under project Himank.