Chennai, 16 Oct 2026: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated and dedicated five major development projects worth around ₹3,350 crore in Ladakh today via video conferen cing. Celebrating a new chapter in the region's development through virtual participation, the Prime Minister inaugurated multiple key projects designed to ease travel, improve electricity and water access, and preserve ancient heritage. He fondly noted the enthusiasm of citizens waving the Tricolor amidst fresh snowfall in Zanskar, while extending his gratitude to the engineers, laborers, local workers, and the BRO personnel who executed these challenging works."I extend my heartiest congratulations to all the people of Ladakh for these projects,” affirmed Shri Modi.
Recalling his earlier laying of the founda tion stone for the Kushok Bakula Rin poche Airport terminal in Leh, the Prime Minister expressed delight at inaugurating the 650-crore-rupee facility that triples flight capacity and expands annual passen ger handling from 10 lakh to 35 lakh. He highlighted that the terminal is India's first to feature geothermal heating alongside solar energy usage to suit the harsh climate, energi zing local tourism while balancing infra structure growth with ecological care."Our effort is to develop modern infrastructure in Ladakh while taking full care of the local environment,” asserted Shri Modi.
Underscoring the strategic and economic value of regional connectivity, the Prime Minister dedicated the 2,500-crore-rupee Nimmu–Padum–Darc ha road to the citizens, noting that it slashes travel time from 12 hours down to just 3 hours. He emphasized that beyond saving commuters' time, this vital corridor will signi ficantly boost local commerce."This road will also greatly help trade and business,” noted Shri Modi.
Building upon his prior inauguration of the Srinagar-Leh transmission line, the Prime Minister dedi cated the Hanu hydro electric project and its associated transmis sion network while noting ongoing modern power generation initiatives in Puga Valley. He explained that reliable electricity transforms rural life by illuminating homes and empowering children's education, healthcare delivery, and small-scale enter prises."Every sector will benefit from it,” observed Shri Modi. Focusing on agricul tural resilience and water security across the high-altitude terrain, the Prime Minister dedicated 40 newly constructed reservoirs developed under Project Amrit Him Sarovar to the local community. He stated that these water bodies are designed to support the agrarian economy during critical cultivation cycles."These will help in providing water for irrigation to farmers at the time of need,” noted Shri Modi.