Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and dedicate to the nation five major development projects worth around Rs 3,350 crore in Ladakh on October 15, 2026, at about 12:30 PM through video conferencing. He will also address the gathering on the occasion. The projects span air connectivity, strategic roads, energy, heritage conservation and water security, and together are meant to strengthen infrastructure in the Union Territory.
At the centre of the package is the New Passenger Terminal Building at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh, built at a cost of Rs 640 crore. Spread over 23,800 square metres, the terminal is designed to handle 35 lakh passengers a year. It uses geothermal energy to improve efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint, a notable feature in an ecologically sensitive high-altitude region, and blends modern passenger amenities with elements of Ladakh’s cultural heritage.
The Prime Minister will also dedicate the 298-km Nimmu-Padum-Darcha Road, constructed by the Border Roads Organisation. The road links Nimmu in Leh with Darcha in Himachal Pradesh through the remote Zanskar Valley and offers an alternative corridor to Ladakh, supplementing the Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh highways. It crosses difficult Himalayan terrain, including the high-altitude Shinkun La Pass, and is regarded as a significant engineering achievement. Its strategic value lies in improving operational mobility and logistical support for the Armed Forces, while residents of Zanskar will gain better access to healthcare, education, markets and essential services.
On energy, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the 9 MW Hanu Small Hydroelectric Project and the 66 kV Double-Circuit Dah-Hanu-Khaltsi Transmission Line. These will strengthen power evacuation infrastructure, improve the reliability of Ladakh’s electricity network and mark a step towards using the region’s hydropower potential.
In a first for the country, he will inaugurate the Petroglyph Conservation Park at Sindhu Ghat in Leh. Ladakh holds hundreds of prehistoric rock art sites with carvings of wildlife, human figures and symbols that offer insight into thousands of years of human history. The park will provide a dedicated space to protect these vulnerable remains, raise public awareness and encourage responsible heritage tourism.
On water security, the Prime Minister will inaugurate 40 water bodies developed across 40 villages under Project Him Sarovar, in line with the objectives of Mission Amrit Sarovar. Agriculture in Ladakh suffers from a seasonal imbalance: farmers often face scarcity during the crucial sowing period, even though snowmelt and glacial runoff supply plenty of water at other times of the year. The project seeks to conserve water when it is abundant and make it available when it is needed, supporting irrigation, sustaining farm livelihoods and strengthening long-term water security.
The announcement comes at a time when Ladakh has been the focus of sustained national attention on infrastructure, connectivity and development since it became a Union Territory in 2019. The five projects together address air travel, all-weather access, power supply, culture and water, areas that shape daily life in one of the country’s most remote regions.
