New LAC Highway via Saser La to Shield Indian Troops from China

In a major strategic move, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is fast‑tracking a 130 km all‑weather highway linking Sasoma (Nubra Valley) with the Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) outpost along the Line of Actual Control. Dubbed the Sasoma–Saser La–Gapshan–DBO road, this new route, built under Project Vijayak and Himank is designed to reduce visibility from Chinese surveillance installations across the border.

Unlike the Darbuk–Shyok–DBO corridor, this alignment snakes through Saser La and Gapshan, traversing high-altitude passes (~17,800 ft) and nine heavy-vehicle bridges. With 70% of construction complete, officials project full operational capability by October–November 2026, transporting even mechanized artillery covertly under the cover of terrain. A proposed tunnel under Saser La would further guarantee all-season access, though final approval and construction may take 4–5 years.

The new route strengthens India’s logistics, surveillance and rapid deployment capacity in eastern Ladakh, significantly reducing the risk of Chinese monitoring and enhancing India’s defensive posture.