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Project Himank

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Himank, also known as Project HIMANK is a project of the Border Roads Organisation under the Ministry of Defence of India. It was established in August 1985 to facilitate the construction of road infrastructure in Ladakh and parts of Jammu and Kashmir under the India–China Border Roads project. The project is also involved in providing all year access to military bases and outposts in Siachen glacier, along the Line of actual control and areas near the Pangong Tso lake.[3]

Himank
Founded4 December 1985; 38 years ago (1985-12-04)
Country India
TypeArmy, Engineering
RoleTo construct and maintain motorable roads in Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control
HeadquartersLeh, Ladakh, India
Nickname(s)The Mountain Tamers
Motto(s)Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam
AnniversariesRaising Day: 05 December; BRO Day: 7 May
Websitebro.gov.in
Commanders
Director GeneralLt. Gen. Raghu Srinivasan[1]
Chief EngineerBrigadier Vishal Srivastava [2]

It has constructed the highest motorable road in the world at Umling La at height of 19,300 feet (5,900 m) along with roads in Khardung La, Tanglang La and Chang La. The project also provided access from Leh to Kargil during the Kargil War in May 1999. Its work in some locations is constrained to only a few months in a year due to extreme climatic conditions. The project undertakes snow clearance works every year to keep major roads in strategic area in Ladakh open during winters.[4][5]

Command structure

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Drive Slow sign by Himank in the Nubra Valley, Ladakh, India.

The project is divided mainly into the 16th task force, 753rd task force and 50th task forces which facilitates works in the areas of Spituk, Thiksey and Durbok respectively. Both of these task forces include numerous companies which in turn include platoons and detachments. The task forces are headed by a commander while the companies are headed by an officer commanding.[6][7][8]

Major works

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The project has connected numerous villages and townships including Chisumle and Demchok with the highest motorable Umling La road.[9] In 2016, the project constructed two strategic bridges namely the Himank Setu and Tsultak Bridge across the Shyok river and Phiya Lung Nallah respectively.[10][11] The project has constructed and maintains the Darbuk–Shyok–DBO Road which leads to Daulat Beg Oldi, a military base along the line of actual control.[12] The construction of a new tunnel along the DBO road is also under progress.[13][14]

The construction of the Sasoma–Saser La Road on the Siachen glacier and Likaru-Mig La-Fukche road at an altitude of 19,400 feet (5,900 m) is also underway.[15] The construction is possible for a short period of time every year due to extreme cold and geographical challenges.[16] The project has also experimented the construction of plastic roads using waste low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyurethane.[17] The project is also constructing a 3D printed air despatch unit in Chandigarh airport which aims to provide logistical support to the project.[18]

Road signs

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Project HIMANK is known to install humorous road signs along roads in Ladakh, photos of which are the subject of the book Peep Peep Don't Sleep.[19][20] Signboards, notably those in the Nubra Valley, offer philosophical statements from singer Patti LaBelle, French author Jules Renard, singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett and early Zionist Jessie Sampter.

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Himank road signs.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Lt General Raghu Srinivasan assumes charge as Border Roads Organisation chief". India Today. October 2023. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Delegation comprising officials from MoRTH, Project Himank calls on Hon'ble Lt Governor Brig (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd. | The Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh | India". Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Himank". Border Roads Organisation. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  4. ^ Sharma, Reeta (26 October 2002). "Land of passess made passable". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  5. ^ Agencies (25 March 2023). "Border Roads Organisation opens Leh-Manali Highway in 138 days". The Shillong Times. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  6. ^ "eProcurement System Government of India". eprocure.gov.in. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  7. ^ Yumpu.com. "CA NO CDR 753 BRTF/ /2011-12 - Border Roads Organisation". yumpu.com. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Border Roads Organisation 755 BRTF/PROJ HIMANK/BRO, Hanle, Ladakh (UT) and GREF/50 BRTF/ PROJ HIMANK/BRO, Durbuk, Ladakh (UT) - Alma Times". 2 October 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  9. ^ PTI (2 November 2017). "BRO builds world's highest motorable road in Ladakh at 19,300 feet". mint. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Taming of the Shyok: BRO constructs Himank Setu". The Times of India. 18 July 2016. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  11. ^ Excelsior, Daily (21 August 2016). "BRO constructs bridge on Phiya Lung Nallah". DailyExcelsior. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Explained: The strategic road to DBO". The Indian Express. 11 June 2020. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Exclusive: भारत और चीन के बीच तवांग में हुए संघर्ष के बाद बॉर्डर रोड ऑर्गेनाइजेशन का प्लान 2023". Times Now Navbharat (in Hindi). 4 January 2023. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  14. ^ "Achievements of West Dte during the F/Y 2016-17" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  15. ^ "In Ladakh, construction for world's new highest motorable road begins. Details". Hindustan Times. 19 August 2023. Archived from the original on 15 September 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  16. ^ "World's First Galciated Motorable Road Being Laid in Ladakh by BRO Amid Extreme Weather Conditions". News18. 18 November 2018. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  17. ^ sbmgramin (28 August 2023). "Ladakh provides plastic waste to Project Himank". Swachh Bharat (Grameen). Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  18. ^ PTI. "BRO DG inspects construction of air dispatch unit touted to be 'world's largest 3D concrete printed campus'". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  19. ^ "20 Ridiculously Witty Road Signs You Will See On The Way To Ladakh". ScoopWhoop. 12 April 2014. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  20. ^ Jain, Ajay; Dubey, Nimish (2008). Peep peep, don't sleep (1 ed.). New Delhi: Kunzum, travel imprint of TCP Media Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-81-906007-2-9.
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