Geothermal terminal and new road cut travel time in Ladakh, says PM

New Delhi, 15 Oct – Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking via video link, unveiled two landmark projects that will dramatically reshape mobility in Ladakh.

The new passenger terminal at Leh’s Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, built at a cost of about ₹650 crore, is the first in India to employ geothermal heating alongside solar energy. Designed for the harsh alpine climate, the terminal will raise the airport’s capacity from one million to 3.5 million passengers per year and allow a three‑fold increase in flight frequencies.

Equally transformative is the Nimu‑Padum‑Darcha road, a ₹2,500 crore undertaking by the Border Roads Organisation. The highway shortens a previously 12‑hour trek to roughly three hours, cutting travel time by 75 percent and providing a reliable trade route for merchants and tourists alike.

The Prime Minister also launched the Sanok hydro‑electric project, a fresh Center of Excellence in Leh, and announced proposals for IIT‑Jammu and IIM‑Jammu satellite campuses to broaden higher‑education opportunities.

Modi reiterated that these infrastructure strides are part of a broader strategy to empower Ladakh’s youth, improve educational outcomes, and foster a self‑reliant, technologically adept generation.