Manali, May 13
In a major achievement, the Border Roads Organization (BRO) on Tuesday restored the strategically important Manali–Leh highway after 42 days of continuous and challenging work in extreme weather conditions. The restoration work on the 427-kilometer-long highway began on March 27. After battling heavy snow, sub-zero temperatures, and repeated avalanche threats, BRO teams successfully reopened the route, marking a significant milestone for connectivity in the high-altitude region.
Officials of BRO’s Deepak and Himank projects celebrated the achievement at Sarchu with a “Golden Handshake Ceremony.” The Deepak Project is responsible for restoring the stretch from Manali to Sarchu, while the Himank Project is responsible for the road from Sarchu to Leh.
The Manali–Sarchu stretch alone has 26 avalanche-prone zones, making road restoration extremely difficult every year. According to officials, adverse weather conditions this season made the task even more demanding. BRO teams reportedly had to retreat six times during the operation due to dangerous conditions before finally achieving success.
Speaking on the occasion, Colonel Gaurav said that reopening the 16,040-foot-high Baralacha Pass was a highly challenging task. He stated that BRO personnel worked tirelessly for 42 days in freezing temperatures to restore the road.
He added that while the road has now been cleared, vehicular movement will only begin after a joint review meeting with the Lahaul-Spiti administration. Authorities are expected to give the green signal for traffic movement in the coming days.
Colonel Gaurav further informed that the operation was conducted under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Tejas Maurya and Captain Saje. He praised the BRO personnel for their determination and adherence to strict safety measures in avalanche-prone areas.
The reopening of the Manali–Leh highway is considered crucial for both civilian connectivity and strategic military movement in the region.
