India upgrades key Ladakh road amid growing threat from China
New Delhi: India is upgrading the 255-km Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DS-DBO) road in eastern Ladakh for movement of heavy military vehicles, including tanks and missile-laden trucks, amid growing threat from China.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the route, which connects Leh to the strategic Daulat Beg Oldie near the Karakoram Pass, is being strengthened to ‘Class 70’ standards, allowing vehicles weighing up to 70 tonnes.
The DS-DBO road serves as the only land access to the Galwan Valley and Depsang Plains, areas of repeated standoffs with the Chinese military since 2020.
To diversify its logistics network, India is also building an alternative Leh-Saser La-Murgo-DBO axis, with a key 4-km stretch near the 17,800-foot-high Saser La pass under construction. The route is expected to be operational by next year.
