PM Modi visited Leh, a region in Jammu and Kashmir, on 19th May, right after the announcement made by centre to suspend operations against terror groups during the holy month of Ramadan.
It is PM Modi’s second visit since August 21, 2014 when he inaugurated a hydel power project.
The visit will mark the celebration of 100th birthday anniversary of the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche. Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, born on May 21, 1917 was a scholar of the Mahayana school of Buddhism and head priest of the Spituk Gompa. In 1998, he became the first and only monk diplomat in the world when he was sent to Mongolia as the ambassador.
PM Modi will also inaugurate two of much awaited projects, the Zojila tunnel, India’s longest road and Asia’s longest bidirectional tunnel, that will provide connectivity to Srinagar, Kargil and Leh.
The tunnel’s construction and maintenance between Baltal and Minamarg have been approved with the budget of Rs 6,800 crore by the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs.
It is one of the most strategic move for the entire Kargil to help defence forces . The tunnel will include features such a cut and cross–ventilation system, fully transverse ventilation system, uninterrupted power supply, CCTV monitoring, variable messaging boards, traffic logging equipment, tunnel road, emergency telephone system etc.
Another project that will be launched by PM Modi is Railway Corridor for Ladakh that will strategically cover border areas along China, Nepal and Pakistan. In the light of China’s One Belt One Road(OBOR), Ladakh’s connectivity is critical. It will open pilgrim tourism in all the region of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
India will be able to access Central Asia, China, Russia Mongolia for political, trade, commercial ties. It will also counterbalance China’s epic OBOR/BRI initiative including the CPEC passes through the close vicinity of Ladakh.
Ladakh will work as a direct gateway to access Tarim Basin and the Tibetan Plateau. After India’s inclusion in Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) as a member, India’s engagement with Eurasia is critical and Ladakh will help in providing more stakes in central asia.
(Inputs by Press Trust of India)
