PM Modi inaugurates five major development projects over Rs.3,300 crore in Ladakh
New Delhi,Oct 15,2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday virtually inaugurated five development projects covering airport infrastructure and strategic road connectivity in Ladakh worth around Rs 3,350 crore.
The projects include a new passenger terminal at the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh, built for Rs 640 crore. Spread over 23,800 square metres, the modern terminal is designed to handle 35 lakh passengers annually, officials said.
It incorporates geothermal energy to enhance energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint, reflecting the importance of sustainable infrastructure in Ladakh’s ecologically sensitive environment.
Blending modern passenger amenities with elements of Ladakh’s rich cultural heritage, the terminal will improve passenger convenience and strengthen air connectivity with the rest of the country, the officials said.
Modi also dedicated to the nation the 298-km-long Nimmu-Padum-Darcha Road, constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
Connecting Nimmu in Leh with Darcha in Himachal Pradesh through the remote Zanskar Valley, the road provides an alternative connectivity corridor to Ladakh, supplementing the Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh highways, an official statement said.
Traversing the challenging Himalayan terrain, including the high-altitude Shinkun La Pass, the road marks a significant engineering achievement. Its strategic importance lies in enhancing operational mobility and strengthening logistical support for the armed forces, the statement said.
It will also benefit the residents of Zanskar by improving access to healthcare, education, markets and essential services, it said.
“Today, another chapter is being added to Ladakh’s progress and development. I am happy to be part of this occasion through technology. Several important development projects have been inaugurated in Ladakh today.
“These projects will make travel easier for many people, improve electricity facilities in some areas, increase water availability in others, and strengthen the preservation of our ancient heritage,” Modi said.
As part of the efforts to strengthen energy security and harness Ladakh’s renewable energy potential, the prime minister inaugurated the 9 MW Hanu small hydroelectric project and 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, marking a step towards harnessing the region’s hydropower resources.
Recognising the importance of preserving Ladakh’s ancient archaeological heritage, the prime minister also inaugurated India’s first Petroglyph Conservation Park at Sindhu Ghat in Leh.
Ladakh is home to hundreds of prehistoric rock art sites featuring carvings of wildlife, human figures and symbolic representations that offer valuable insights into thousands of years of human history.
The prime minister also inaugurated 40 water bodies developed across 40 villages under Project Him Sarovar, an initiative aimed at addressing 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 during other periods.
Project Him Sarovar seeks to address this challenge by conserving water when it is available and ensuring its availability when required, thereby supporting irrigation, sustaining agricultural livelihoods and strengthening long-term water security in the region, the statement said.
Chandigarh : French architect Le Carbusier is being remembered when French President Francois Hollande commences his three-day visit to India this afternoon from Chandigarh. Chandigarh is well known for its unique architecture , well planned landscaping and town planing. Francois Hollande will be joined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here.
The dignitaries, who will arrive here separately, will visit the three popular tourist attractions of the city–Rock Garden, Capitol Complex and Government Museum and Art Gallery, official sources said.
After paying a visit to the tourist spots, Modi and Hollande will attend the ‘India-France Business Summit’ at a local hotel here, before flying to New Delhi separately in the evening, the sources said here.
According to the sources, the French President will arrive at the Chandigarh Air Force Station in the afternoon today and head to a private hotel.
Hollande will visit ‘Rock Garden’ where he will be received by Modi.
Rock Garden was built by late artist Nek Chand who made articles from waste and unused material.
The next stop of the leaders will be the Capitol Complex, described as the most spectacular work of French architect Le Corbusier. The Complex comprises Legislative Assembly, Punjab and Haryana High Court and Secretariat.
Later in the afternoon, Modi and Hollande are scheduled to visit Government Museum and Art Gallery, where the dignitaries will be shown fossil discovered from the Shivalik Hills by French and Indian archaeologists.
The leaders will also attend a forum of select CEOs to be followed by the India-France Business Summit, the sources added.
A thick security blanket has been thrown in and around the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana that is hosting a President from a foreign country for the first time.
A heavy posse of security personnel from Punjab, Haryana, UT Chandigarh and Central Para Military Forces, including ITBP, has been deployed at all vital installations in the city.
Hollande will be the fifth French leader to be a Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations on January 26–the maximum number from any country. French leaders had earlier attended the Republic Day celebrations in the national capital in 1976, 1980, 1998 and 2008.
@Agency news