Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday inaugurated the Link Road from Dharchula to Lipulekh (China Border) famously known as Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra Route which is going to reduce the travel time for the pilgrims.

An 80-km road connecting the Lipulekh pass at a height of 17,000 feet along the border with Tibet in Uttarakhand with Dharchula is expected to help pilgrims visiting Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet by reducing the traveling time.

After inaugurating the road through video-conferencing, Singh said pilgrims will now be able to complete their journey in one week instead of up to three weeks. The road originates at Ghatiabagarh and ends at Lipulekh pass, the gateway to Kailash-Mansarovar.

“With the completion of this crucial road link, the decades old dreams and aspirations of the local people and pilgrims have been fulfilled,” the Defence Minister said. He also congratulated the Border Roads Organisation for accomplishing this feat.

At present, the travel to Kailash Mansarovar takes around two to three weeks through Sikkim or Nepal routes. Lipulekh route had a trek of 90 Km through high altitude terrain and the elderly yartris faced lot of difficulties. Now, this yatra will carried out using vehicles.

— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) May 8, 2020

He also expressed confidence that local trade and economic growth in the region would receive a boost with the operationalisation of the road.

Military officials said the road will also help in speedy movement of troops in the strategically key region bordering Tibet. Singh flagged off a caravan of nine vehicles from Pithoragarh to Gunji to mark the opening of the road.

Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh today inaugurated the Link Road from Dharchula to Lipulekh (China Border) famously known as Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra Route. RM congratulated BRO for achieving the connectivity. 1/4 pic.twitter.com/cIHw6UHkKE

— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) May 8, 2020

The caravan included four small vehicles and some loaded vehicles of the BRO and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Chief Engineer of Project Hirak, Vimal Goswami, said.

“After commissioning of the road, the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra from Lipulekh pass has become more convenient for pilgrims who can now return to India in one day after having the sacred darshan,” he said.

With the inauguration of the strategically vital road, over 80-km of tough Himalayan terrain, between the Mangti camp near Tawaghat and Gunji in the Vyas valley, and the security posts on the Indian side of the border, has become accessible, the official said.

Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had announced last year that the road will be completed by April 2020.

“While 51-km long portions, beyond Bundi, were constructed much earlier, followed by a 23-km long portion from Tawaghat to Lakhanpur, the most tough portion between Lakhanpur to Bundi posed challenges and took much time,” BRO officer Mr Goswami said.

The construction of the road began in 2008 and was scheduled to be completed in 2013, but it got delayed due to the tough terrain in the portion between Nazang to Bundi village.

“The 15-km long most challenging portion of the road from Nazang to Bundi was outsourced in 2015 to a private company under technical guidance of BRO engineers, which completed the portion despite all odds before the set date by the minister last year,” said the BRO officer.

The Darchula – Lipulekh road is an extension of Pithoragarh-Tawaghat-Ghatiabagarh road. It originates from Ghatiabagarh and terminates at Lipulekh Pass, the gateway to Kailash Mansarovar. In this 80 Km road, the altitude rises from 6000 feet to 17,060 feet.

However, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in Tibet and border trade between India and China through the Nathula pass will not take place this year due to the coronavirus outbreak, Sikkim government had announced last month. The border trade through Nathula Pass was scheduled to begin in May while the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the route was slated to commence in June.

The Ministry of External Affairs organises the yatra from June-September each year through two different routes, Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) and Nathu La Pass (Sikkim).