NEW DELHI, 21 April, 2021 (TON): On Tuesday, the Border Roads Organization (BRO) opened ZojiLa Pass on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh road for this year after a closure of 110 days.

With the onset of winters, the Pass usually closes by mid-November every year, and opens only by the end of April the next year.

Located at a height of 11,650 feet, Zojila is a strategic pass that provides vital link between Kashmir Valley and Ladakh and is the key to operational preparedness of the Armed Forces.

The renewed focus on infrastructure development of border areas mandated the requirement of keeping the closure of ZojiLa Pass to the minimum.

The pass will facilitate availability of essential goods and supplies for people of Ladakh, who are dependent on air traffic due to closure of the Pass as also easier movement of Army convoys.

BRO said in a statement, "The connectivity across ZojiLa was initially established on February 15, 2021 and it was planned to open the Pass for Army and civil traffic by end February early March."

However, continuous bad weather conditions, poor visibility and heavy snowfall resulted in triggering of avalanches, thus delaying the opening.

Finally, after herculean efforts by Projects Beacon and Vijayak of BRO, the connectivity was reestablished on 21 April, and ten trucks, carrying essential fresh supplies moved across the ZojiLa Pass towards Kargil, thereby bringing much needed succor to the people of Ladakh.