Ladakh Set for ₹3,350 Crore Projects
Five planned initiatives cover airport expansion, strategic road connectivity, hydropower, heritage preservation and village water security.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate and dedicate five development projects worth around ₹3,350 crore in Ladakh on October 15, 2026, at approximately 12:30 PM through video conferencing, according to a Press Information Bureau release issued on October 14.
The projects span transport infrastructure, electricity generation and transmission, archaeological conservation and water management. The government says the initiatives are intended to strengthen regional connectivity, energy infrastructure, cultural preservation and water security.
One of the major projects is the new passenger terminal building 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 and incorporates geothermal energy to improve energy efficiency.
Another key project is the 298-kilometre Nimmu-Padum-Darcha Road, built by the Border Roads Organisation. The route connects Nimmu in Leh with Darcha in Himachal Pradesh through the Zanskar Valley, providing an alternative road corridor to Ladakh alongside the Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh highways. It is also intended to strengthen logistical mobility for the Armed Forces and improve access to essential services for residents.
The energy-related projects include the 9 MW Hanu Small Hydroelectric Project and the 66 kV double-circuit Dah-Hanu-Khaltsi transmission line. Together, they are intended to support the use of local hydropower resources and improve the reliability of the region’s electricity network.
The planned inauguration also includes India’s first Petroglyph Conservation Park at Sindhu Ghat in Leh. The facility is intended to help preserve ancient rock carvings depicting wildlife, human figures and symbolic forms that provide evidence of the region’s long cultural history.
Under Project Him Sarovar, 40 water bodies developed across 40 villages are also scheduled to be inaugurated. The initiative aims to conserve water during periods of availability and improve access when needed, particularly for agriculture, where seasonal water shortages can affect sowing.
The five projects address some of Ladakh’s distinctive geographic and infrastructure challenges, including high-altitude transport, energy access, preservation of archaeological remains and seasonal water availability. The announced programme is scheduled for October 15; the cited release describes the planned event rather than confirming its completion.