The Border Roads Organization built the world’s highest road in eastern Ladakh, at a height of 19,300 feet, according to a government statement released today. The road was built at a greater elevation than the Mount Everest base camps, with the south base camp in Nepal being 17,598 feet and the north base camp in Tibet being 16,900 feet.
To put that in perspective, most big commercial airplanes travel at altitudes of 30,000 feet or more, thus this road is more than half that.
“The road at Umlingla Pass constructed at an altitude of 19,300 ft betters the previous record of a road in Bolivia at 18,953 ft. Umlingla Pass is now connected with a blacktop road to enhance the socio-economic condition and promote tourism in Ladakh,” the government said.
Infrastructure development in such a severe and difficult environment is exceedingly difficult. The temperature drops to -40 degrees Celsius in the winter, and the oxygen level is about half that of regular areas at this altitude.
“The Border Roads Organisation or BRO achieved the feat due to the grit and resilience of its personnel who work in treacherous terrain and extreme weather conditions,” the government said.
The BRO set the record by building a 52-kilometer asphalt road via Umlingla Pass, breaking the previous record of a road linking Bolivia’s volcano Uturuncu, which stands at 18,953 feet.
The road currently links the major cities in eastern Ladakh’s Chumar region. “It will be a benefit to the local populace since it would provide a direct route from Leh to Chisumle and Demchok. It would improve Ladakh’s socioeconomic situation and increase tourism “According to the government.
At approximately 17,600 feet, the Khardung La Pass in Ladakh is also one of the world’s highest highways.
