New Delhi, October 15, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate and dedicate development projects worth around ₹3,350 crore in Ladakh on Thursday, including a new passenger terminal at Leh Airport, a 298-km strategic road connecting Ladakh with Himachal Pradesh, and new electricity and water conservation facilities. The projects are intended to improve transport connectivity, strengthen military logistics and address infrastructure needs in the high-altitude region.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Modi will inaugurate and dedicate the projects through video conferencing at around 12:30 PM and address the gathering. The development programme also includes hydropower infrastructure, a heritage conservation park and water storage facilities across 40 villages.
One of the major projects is the new passenger terminal at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh, constructed at a cost of ₹640 crore. Spread across 23,800 square metres, the terminal is designed to handle 35 lakh passengers annually, increasing the airport’s capacity to accommodate travellers visiting Ladakh.
The terminal incorporates geothermal energy to improve energy efficiency and features architectural elements that reflect Ladakh’s cultural heritage.
Another major development is the 298-km Nimmu-Padum-Darcha Road, constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The road connects Nimmu in Ladakh with Darcha in Himachal Pradesh through the remote Zanskar Valley, providing an alternative route to the region alongside the existing Srinagar–Leh and Manali–Leh highways.
According to the PMO, the road is expected to improve the movement of military personnel, equipment and supplies through difficult Himalayan terrain. It is also intended to give residents of Zanskar better access to healthcare, education, markets and other essential services.
In the power sector, Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the 9-megawatt Hanu Small Hydroelectric Project and the 66-kilovolt double-circuit Dah-Hanu-Khaltsi transmission line. The projects are intended to strengthen electricity infrastructure and improve the transmission of locally generated hydropower in Ladakh.
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate India’s first Petroglyph Conservation Park at Sindhu Ghat in Leh. The facility is designed to preserve ancient rock carvings depicting wildlife, human figures and symbols while promoting awareness of the region’s archaeological heritage.
Water conservation is another focus of the development programme. Under Project Him Sarovar, 40 water bodies have been developed across 40 villages to store water from seasonal sources, including snowmelt and glacial runoff.
The initiative is intended to improve water availability for irrigation, particularly during periods of scarcity, and support agricultural activities in the region’s challenging climatic conditions.
Together, the projects cover air and road connectivity, strategic infrastructure, electricity, heritage conservation and water management. Their inauguration is intended to improve essential facilities and connectivity for residents of Ladakh’s remote and high-altitude communities.
