Road link to last Indian post on China border by next year

After completing road construction between Garbyang and Nabhidhang, the BRO has taken the help of a private company to cut rocks on the 26-km stretch from Lakhanpur to Garbadhar

The construction of a 76-km-long motorable road in Pithoragarh district, which will run up to the last Indian security post on the India-China border in Vyas valley, will be completed in a year if the work on a rocky terrain faces no obstacles, officials said on Thursday.

The construction of a 76-km-long motorable road in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district will link the last Indian security post on the China border . (HT File Photo)

“A 50-km stretch of the road has been laid; work continues on the remaining 26-km portion, which is the most challenging because of rocks,” said Major Manish Narayan, commanding officer of the Border Roads Organistaion (BRO), the construction agency.

This track from Ghatiabagar to Lipulekh, which will be made a concrete road, is used to reach Vyas valley villages.

“We have to often stop construction work as villagers, security personnel and Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims travel to and from Vyas valley on this track,” said Narayan.

After completing road construction between Garbyang and Nabhidhang, the BRO has taken the help of a private company to cut rocks on the 26-km stretch from Lakhanpur to Garbadhar.

“Once work on the 26-km portion is over, vehicles can ply up to Lipulekh pass; three main bridges on the road have been built,” said Narayan.

The road construction, which began in 2003, was to be completed in 2008. Big rocks on mountains made the work tougher for the BRO. “The completion date got deferred to 2012, and then to 2016; now 2018 has been set as the deadline to finish the work,” said a BRO official.