BRO builds world’s highest motorable road in Ladakh

Srinagar, Oct 4: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has achieved a remarkable engineering feat by constructing the world’s highest motorable road at an altitude of 19,400 feet over Mig La Pass in eastern Ladakh, near the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

This new milestone surpasses BRO’s previous records set at Umling La (19,024 feet) and Khardung La (18,380 feet), both also located in Ladakh.

“Border Roads Organisation #BRO has once again created history as Project Himank constructed the world’s highest motorable road at Mig La Pass (19,400 ft) in #Ladakh surpassing its own Guinness World Record set at Umling La (19,024 ft),” the BRO said on its official X handle on Saturday.

“The newly built Likaru-Mig La-Fukche road holds immense strategic significance as the third vital axis from Hanle to Fukche, while also boosting tourism in #Ladakh and upliftment of India’s First Villages,” the post added.

The newly developed Likaru-Mig La-Fukche road, built by Project Himank, holds immense strategic importance. It serves as the third key route connecting Hanle to Fukche, strengthening border infrastructure and providing a significant logistical advantage in the sensitive region.

Additionally, the road is expected to boost tourism by offering access to one of the most extreme and visually stunning landscapes in the country, making it a magnet for adventure seekers.

A BRO team led by Brigadier Vishal Srivastava, Chief Engineer of Project Himank, celebrated the occasion by hoisting the National Flag and the BRO ensign at Mig La.

According to BRO officials, the organisation is behind the construction of 11 of the 14 highest motorable passes in the world. Khardung La, once considered the highest, served for years as the vital gateway to the Nubra Valley and the Siachen Glacier. Umling La took the title in recent years before being surpassed now by Mig La.

Operating under the Ministry of Defence, the BRO plays a crucial role in enhancing infrastructure in India’s border regions and in several friendly neighbouring countries. Its vast footprint spans 19 Indian states and three Union Territories, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and extends into countries like Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Tajikistan, and Sri Lanka.

To date, the BRO has built over 60,000 kilometers of roads, 19 airfields, and more than 1,000 bridges in some of the most challenging terrains on Earth. It is also undertaking major tunnel construction projects across high mountain passes to ensure all-weather connectivity to India’s forward areas.

The Mig La achievement not only reinforces India’s border preparedness but also opens a new chapter in high-altitude road construction, blending strategic necessity with opportunities for tourism and regional development.