Border Roads construct world's highest motorable road, crossing Umlingla Pass in Ladakh at 19,300 feet.

The road is higher than Mount Everest Base Camp

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has constructed and black-topped the highest motorable road in the world at 19,300 ft at Umlingla Pass in Eastern Ladakh. The 52-km-long tarmac road passes through Umlingla Pass, bettering the previous record of a road in Bolivia connecting to its volcano Uturuncu at 18,953 feet.

The road through Umlingla is higher than the Mount Everest Base Camps. The South Base Camp in Nepal is at 17,598 ft, while North Base Camp in Tibet is at 16,900 ft.

The road is also higher than Siachen Glacier which is at 17,700 ft. The Khardung La Pass in Leh is at an altitude of 17,582 ft.

The new road connects important towns in Chumar sector, in Eastern Ladakh. It offers an alternate route connecting Chisumle and Demchok from Leh. It will enhance the socio-economic condition and promote tourism in Ladakh.

Infrastructure development in such harsh and tough terrain is extremely challenging. During the winter, the temperature dips to -40 degrees and the oxygen level at this altitude is almost 50 percent less than at normal places. 

Another feather in the BRO's cap.