PITHORAGARH: With the commissioning of a bridge in Nabhidhank, the BRO has completed a 31-km stretch of the strategically significant 75-km long Ghatiabagar-Lipulekh motor road along the India-China boundary here.
The 100-meter long bridge was commissioned on June 21.
"The rest of the road from Garbadhar to Bundhi which is hard rocky in nature is being constructed by a private company and will be ready by 2018," said a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) officer in Dharchula.
According to the officer, besides the recently commissioned bridge at Nabhidhank, three other bridges at Gunji –Napalchu and Garbiyang have been constructed and commissioned in recent months.
"After commissioning of these bridges, the completion of this road at the border has become much easier," the officer said.
The 75-km motor road from Ghatiabagar town in Kali Valley to Nabhidank has been under construction since 2007.
"With commissioning of recent valley bridges, we are in a position to say that the 12-meter wide motor road from Ghatiabagar to Nabhidhank will be ready by 2018," said the BRO officer in-charge of roads, Manish Narayan.
Narayan said that the hard rocky portion of the road is being constructed by a private company which has assured its completion by 2018.
According to local villagers, the construction of bridges will not only facilitate pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarowar via road from New Delhi to Lipulekh after 2018 but also extend the much awaited road services to the locals of Vyans Valley.
"This strategically significant road will have multipurpose uses for armed forces, Kailash pilgrims, Indo-Tibet traders and for local villagers as well," said Tez Singh Gunjiyal, a resident of Gunji in the valley.