SRINAGAR, India-controlled Kashmir, May 3 (Xinhua) — India has re-opened the strategic high altitude Srinagar-Leh road link to vehicular traffic on Saturday after five months of closing due to heavy snow, Defense Ministry officials in Srinagar said on Sunday.

The 434-kilometer road was closed following the heavy snowfall in winters.

The Border Roads Organization which has been maintaining the road opened it after clearing the snow from Zojila Pass which is 3,630 meters above sea level.

Srinagar-Leh road is the only road link connecting Ladakh region with the rest of India-controlled Kashmir and beyond. Another road link connecting Ladakh to Indian state Himichal Pardesh remains closed. “Today Indian Army convoy was flagged from Sonmarg on to Leh and in the couple of days we expect that civilian vehicles will start plying on the road,” said an official.

The Indian Railways is planning to connect Ladakh region with India through a railway line via Himachal Pradesh.

The feasibility report of this strategically crucial project to link mountainous terrain of Ladakh region with India has been finalized by Indian Railways, according to Indian officials.

Entry Filed under: Delhi