World's Highest Fighter Airfield To Come Up In Ladakh's Nyoma

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is set to achieve a remarkable feat as it embarks on the construction of the world’s highest fighter airfield at Nyoma in Ladakh. The foundation stone of this ambitious project is scheduled to be placed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on September 12, 2023, at the Devak Bridge in Jammu. This endeavor signifies the BRO’s dedication to strengthening India’s defense capabilities in a region of strategic importance.

Nyoma: An Integral Hub for Ladakh’s Infrastructure and Air Operations

Nyoma stands as a prominent village situated in the southern region of Ladakh, India. It hosts an Indian Air Force Base within the Leh district. Nyoma is notably home to an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) established in 1962. Nyoma’s elevation reaches an impressive 4,180 meters (13,710 feet) above sea level, making it one of the highest-altitude locations in the region.

Government’s Expanding Budget Allocation for Infrastructure Enhancement Along Borders

Highlighting the financial commitment from the central government Lt Gen Chaudhry revealed that BRO’s budget in 2008 used to be approximately ₹3,000 crore. In 2017, it increased to ₹5,000-6,000 crore. In 2019, it went up to ₹8,000 crore and increased thereafter. And in the last year, around ₹12,340 crore were spent. This significant budget allocation underscores the government’s dedication to fortifying India’s infrastructure in border areas.

India’s Ascent in Border Infrastructure Development and Achievements

Lt Gen Rajeev Chaudhry, who leads the BRO, expresses optimism that India is making substantial strides towards outpacing China in the realm of infrastructure development along the extensive 3,488-kilometer Line of Actual Control (LAC) within the coming two to three years. Highlighting the swiftness with which the BRO has advanced, Lt Gen Chaudhry underscores that an impressive tally of 295 projects, with a cumulative value of ₹11,000 crore, has been successfully completed over the preceding two to three years.