After Alternate Route To Depsang, BRO Starts Constructing 'Black-Top' Road On Northern Bank Of Pangong Tso

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is constructing a 'black-topped' road on the northern bank of Pangang Tso, after working to create an alternate axis of connectivity to Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO).

A secondary bridge, adjacent to the main bridge is already completed, while the construction work on the main bridge is ongoing.

The black-topped road that the BRO is constructing, is estimated to be completed by 2025.

While India holds area upto the western side of Finger-4 (map above), which is also called Foxhole Point or Foxhole Ridge, and claims that the LAC runs through Finger-8, China claims that the LAC is close to Finger-2.

India has been sending patrols upto Finger-8 for years while the Chinese patrol upto the eastern side Finger-4.

“Construction of black-topped road towards Finger-4 on our side is on and is expected to be completed by 2025. There is major impetus on infrastructure, road networks, advanced landing grounds and so on," an officer said.

The area from Finger-4 to Finger-8 is under the Indian perception of Line of Actual Control (LAC), which the Chinese claims to be their territory.

The BRO is also constructing an alternate route to Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DS-DBO) road, that many experts claims as the main reason of Chinese aggression on the LAC.

The DS-DBO road on many locations is extremely vulnerable to interdiction by the Chinese due to its closeness to the LAC. In some locations the road is 5-6 kilometre away from the LAC.

The alternate route will connect Sasoma to Murgo passing through the indomitable 17,800 feet Saser La pass, bypassing most of the DS-DBO route.

Just last month (on 8 June), BRO released tenders for construction of a 4-kilometre part of the under construction Sasoma-Murgo route.

Another alternate route, from the base of Saser La to the DBO, through Gapshan is under planning stages, as well.