Ladakh: India All Set To Get Alternate Connectivity To DBO Depsang As BRO Releases Tenders For Construction Of Sasoma-Murgo Road

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has released a tender for construction of a 4-kilometre long stretch on the under construction Sasoma to Murgo road, which crosses through the 17,800 feet high Sasser Pass.

After completion, the road will provide an alternate axis to Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) airfield in the Depsang Plains, in the Karakoram mountain range in eastern Ladakh.

Currently, the Armed forces uses the 255-km long Darbuk-Shyok-Daulet Beg Oldie (DS-DBO) road for connectivity till DBO. This road in some places travels very close to the Chinese claim lines, in some places even less than 5 kilometres, and runs the risk of interdiction and even physical occupation in times of war.

Some experts claim that the likely cause for the ongoing standoff between the Indian Army and Chinese PLA was the successful completion of this DS-DBO road.

In the area close to Galwan valley, the DS-DBO road runs very close to the Line-of Actual Control (LAC).

The clash at Galwan, that killed 20 Indian and reportedly more than 40-45 Chinese PLA soldiers, was in all likelihood done by the Chinese to get a direct view of the DS-DBO road.

The Alternate Road To DBO

The Sasoma to Murgo road, via Sasser La pass will provide an alternate connectivity to the DS-DBO road.

According to the tender, the BRO intends to get the work completed in under 180 days, using pre-fabricated and inter-locking concrete blocks.

Sasoma already has road connectivity to Leh. Sasoma lies on the same route as the Siachen Base Camp. From Sasoma the road ascends to the mighty 17,800 feet Sasser La pass.

From the Sasser La pass, the road descends to Sasser Brangsa, towards the Shyok river. The road ultimately joins Murgo, on the DS-DBO road.

In April last year, the National Wildlife Board had given environmental clearance for the construction of this part of the road, as the Sasser La to Sasser Brangsa part passes through the Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary.

Any construction activity in the high-altitude terrain of eastern Ladakh is extremely challenging, owing to the thin air (low-oxygen content), very low temperature, high winds and a very small window (April-to-October) for construction before the onset of winters.

A construction of a tunnel is also approved by the Defence Ministry but it is expected to take years to complete. The Sasoma to Murgo road, in the meantime, will provide an alternate route to DBO.