PM Modi inaugurates five Ladakh projects, including Leh airport terminal, worth ₹3,350 crore

 Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road, Hanu hydropower project, 40 water reservoirs and petroglyph conservation park among key initiatives

New Delhi, October 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated and dedicated five development projects worth around ₹3,350 crore in Ladakh through video conferencing, highlighting improvements in regional connectivity, power infrastructure, water availability and heritage conservation.

The projects include the new terminal at Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport in Leh, the Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road, the Hanu hydroelectric project and its transmission network, 40 reservoirs constructed under Project Amrit Him Sarovar, and India’s first Petroglyph Conservation Park in Leh.

Addressing the gathering, Modi said the projects would make travel easier, strengthen electricity infrastructure, improve water availability and support the preservation of Ladakh’s cultural heritage.

The Prime Minister said the new airport terminal, built at a cost of ₹650 crore, would triple the facility’s flight-handling capacity and increase annual passenger-handling capacity from 10 lakh to 35 lakh. He said the terminal incorporates geothermal heating and solar energy to address the region’s harsh climatic conditions.

Modi said the infrastructure was being developed with attention to Ladakh’s fragile environment and its tourism potential.

He also dedicated the Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road, constructed at a cost of ₹2,500 crore, saying the route would reduce travel time from around 12 hours to three hours and improve trade and business connectivity.

On power infrastructure, the Prime Minister said the Hanu hydroelectric project and its associated transmission network would strengthen electricity supply. He said reliable power would support education, healthcare and small businesses, particularly in remote areas.

The 40 reservoirs developed under Project Amrit Him Sarovar, he said, would help farmers access irrigation water during critical agricultural periods.

Infrastructure and livelihoods

Reviewing development in Ladakh since it became a Union Territory in 2019, Modi said the road network had expanded from 1,800 km to more than 4,000 km. The number of major bridges had increased from 19 to nearly 75, while the number of helipads had risen from seven to more than 40.

He said tap-water coverage had increased from 3.5 per cent to nearly 99 per cent of households and hospital beds had doubled. The Zojila Tunnel, currently under development, is expected to improve all-weather connectivity.

Modi said the government was promoting winter and adventure tourism, while more than 40 border settlements were being upgraded under the Vibrant Villages Programme to generate employment and strengthen local economies.

He also highlighted the expansion of homestays from around 150 to 3,000 and the development of approximately 11,000 greenhouses, saying these initiatives were creating opportunities for tourism enterprises and agricultural diversification.

The Prime Minister said the expansion of BharatNet and high-speed internet was intended to improve access to online education, e-governance and markets for local businesses and artisans.

Education and sports

Emphasising opportunities for young people, Modi said a major Centre of Excellence was being built in Leh to provide access to quality education, technology and advanced skills without requiring students to move to other cities.

He also referred to proposals for satellite campuses of IIT Jammu and IIM Jammu, saying these would expand opportunities for higher education, research and skills development in the region.

The Prime Minister said Ladakh’s new sports policy would help identify and nurture local talent in ice hockey, winter sports and mountaineering through improved training and facilities.

Modi also announced that the government had approved the establishment of a High Court Bench for Ladakh in August, describing it as an important step towards improving access to justice and strengthening administrative arrangements.

Heritage and local products

The inauguration of the Petroglyph Conservation Park in Leh is aimed at protecting the region’s ancient rock art and cultural heritage, including traditions associated with its historic monasteries and Buddhist institutions.

Modi also highlighted the commercial potential of Ladakh’s sea-buckthorn, handicrafts, GI-tagged apricots, high-altitude floriculture and Pashmina wool produced by the Changpa community.

He said efforts were being made to strengthen the branding and market access of local products so that producers could benefit from expanding domestic and international demand.

Concluding his address, the Prime Minister congratulated the people of Ladakh and said the government remained committed to expanding infrastructure, livelihoods, education and economic opportunities across the Union Territory.