Srinagar: As the two nuclear countries remain locked in a tense stand-off, government is rushing labourers from Jharkhand to speed up construction work on the contentious Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DSDBO), the all-weather road connecting Leh city to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh, India Today reported Friday.
According to the report, China wants India to stop construction on the 255-km-long Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie road. However, India has conveyed to China that the road construction activity in Ladakh is in Indian territory and will continue.
The 255-km DSDO road, the report says is the latest flashpoint between India and China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh. This road connects Leh to the furthermost outpost in Ladakh at the Daulat Beg Oldie, barely 10 km from Karakoram pass.
The report says that Daulat Beg Oldie is a strategically located Brigade Headquarters of the army close to Aksai Chin.
In October 2019, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 500-metre-long Col Chewang Rinchen Bridge on the road and the 255-km stretch will have over 35 bridges to make it all-weather road.
“What’s being tried out by China is posturing. And posturing to divert attention. It is not going to affect road construction. It is not going to affect the way we are deployed. It is not going to affect anything at all. VK Singh, Minister of State, roads, transport and highways told India Today.
The report further said that additional labour is being rushed in from Jharkhand to Udhampur for the onward journey to Ladakh to speed up the road construction project.
According to another report, seven special trains have been sent to Jharkhand to transfer labourers hailing from Santhal Pargana division of the state to Udhampur. While six of the trains will depart from Dumka station, the last one will bring labourers from Deoghar station.
“The labourers have already started arriving at the station. The first train carrying labourers will leave for Udhampur from Dumka station. All arrangements are in place at the railway stations,” Hindi news portal Jagran reported.
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