Matching China in infrastructure development, India is set to provide connectivity to all Army outposts in the Himalayas within five years. Separately, the strategic air base at Nyoma in eastern Ladakh is expected to be completed by October this year.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) upgraded the mud-paved runway at Nyoma, located just 30-km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, into a proper paved runway last year. “The target is to complete the rest of the work by October,” said BRO Director General Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan
Once completed, Nyoma will be the fourth IAF base in Ladakh. Leh already serves as an operational base, while Kargil and Thoise (base of Siachen) have full-fledged airstrips. Additionally, Daulat Beg Oldie has a mud-paved runway used for special operations. Though there are two other such runways at Fukche and Chushul, located just 2-3 km from the LAC, these are considered unusable in case of conflict.
