New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and dedicate five development projects worth around ₹3,350 crore in Ladakh on October 15, 2026. He will do so at around 12:30 PM via video conferencing and will also address the gathering. The Ladakh projects will strengthen connectivity, improve energy infrastructure, conserve cultural heritage and enhance water security in the region.
The Prime Minister will inaugurate the New Passenger Terminal Building at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh. It has been built at a cost of ₹640 crore. The terminal is spread over 23,800 square metres and is designed to handle 35 lakh passengers annually. It incorporates geothermal energy to improve energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint. It also blends modern passenger amenities with elements of Ladakh’s cultural heritage, and it will improve passenger convenience and strengthen air connectivity with the rest of the country.
Nimmu-Padum-Darcha Road to offer alternative route
Modi will dedicate to the nation the 298-km Nimmu-Padum-Darcha Road, which the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) constructed. The road connects Nimmu in Leh with Darcha in Himachal Pradesh through the remote Zanskar Valley. It offers an alternative corridor to Ladakh and supplements the Srinagar–Leh and Manali–Leh highways.
The road crosses challenging Himalayan terrain, including the high-altitude Shinkun La Pass, and marks a significant engineering achievement. Its strategic importance lies in enhancing operational mobility and strengthening logistical support for the Armed Forces. It will also improve access to healthcare, education, markets and essential services for residents of Zanskar.
Hydropower and transmission line for Ladakh
To strengthen energy security and harness Ladakh’s renewable energy potential, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the 9 MW Hanu Small Hydroelectric Project. He will also inaugurate the 66 kV Double-Circuit Dah-Hanu-Khaltsi Transmission Line. The projects will strengthen power evacuation infrastructure and improve the reliability of Ladakh’s electricity network. They mark an important step towards harnessing the region’s hydropower resources.
Petroglyph Conservation Park to protect rock art
Modi will inaugurate India’s first Petroglyph Conservation Park at Sindhu Ghat in Leh. Ladakh is home to hundreds of prehistoric rock art sites with carvings of wildlife, human figures and symbolic representations. These offer valuable insights into thousands of years of human history. The petroglyphs are an irreplaceable record of the region’s cultural and civilisational past.
The park will provide a dedicated space to protect these vulnerable archaeological remains. It will also raise public awareness and encourage responsible heritage tourism.
Project Him Sarovar to address water scarcity
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate 40 water bodies developed across 40 villages under Project Him Sarovar. The initiative addresses Ladakh’s unique geographical and climatic challenges through water conservation, in line with the objectives of Mission Amrit Sarovar. Agriculture in Ladakh faces a seasonal imbalance between water availability and demand. Farmers often experience water scarcity during the crucial sowing season, even as snowmelt and glacial runoff provide substantial water resources at other times.
Project Him Sarovar seeks to conserve water when it is available and ensure its availability when required. This will support irrigation, sustain agricultural livelihoods and strengthen long-term water security in the region.
