DSDBO Road - Strategically important road near LAC in Ladakh

Darbuk Shyok Daulat Beg Oldie Road is a 255 km strategically important all weather road near LAC(Line of Actual Control) in eastern Ladakh. This road runs at an elevation ranging between 4,000 m -5,000 m above M.S.L. 

  History of DSDBO road - The DSDBO road project was started in year 2000 by Border Roads Organization(BRO) with an estimated cost of Rs. 320 Cr. This project was directly monitored by PMO. It has to be completed by 2012 but due to alignment of road along Shyok river it was damaged in summer months due to flooding of river, so the project was not completed on time.After that road was realigned to protect it from damage caused due to flooding of Shyok river during summer. Construction of 37 truss bridge on this road has been completed .Work on this road will be completed by end of this year.   Strategic Importance of road- This road runs from Darbuk to Daulat Beg Oldie(DBO) via Shyok .

1. This road runs almost parallel to LAC on India -China border.It is important for movement of defence forces near LAC .
2. World highest airstrip(5,065 m above M.S.L) is located at Daulat Beg Oldie near Aksai Chin.It was built in 1962 during India -China war.After that it was abandoned and again revived in 2008 by Indian Air Force(IAF).Also, there is a military outpost at DBO which is manned by Army and ITBP.
3. Daulat Beg Oldie is located in northernmost part of Ladakh. DBO is located at a distance of 8 km from Karakoram pass and 9 km west of Aksai Chin.This pass is vital link between Aksai Chin to POK( Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) ceded to  China by Pakistan(5,180 sq. km) in 1963 and Xinjiang province of China.
4. DSDBO road branch goes to Galwan valley.Galwan valley is located near DSDBO road.Chinese army built up near this road may posses a threat to this road.Present tension at LAC is near confluence of Galwan and Shyok river.
5. Gilgit Baltistan area is in west direction from DBO.China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is under construction passes through Gilgit Baltistan.
6. It will reduce travel time between Leh and DBO.By this road travel time would be about 6 hrs which has significance importance for fast movement of defence forces at LAC.
7. Another road from Leh to DBO passes through Sasser pass which is accessible only in summer months .So,all weather  DSDBO road is strategically important for movement of troops.

Link on my website -https://www.piyushknowledgeblog.education/2020/06/dsdbo-road-strategically-important-road.html Image source - http://www.indiandefencereview.com/news/dsdbo-road-completed-but-what-of-the-scam-and-the-northeast/ Ref-https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/lac-stand-off-india-china-darbuk-shyok-daulat-beg-oldie-dsdbo-road-6452997/