Leh-Kargil road to turn tourist highway

New Delhi, January 31

The road from Leh to Kargil will be given a makeover as a tourist highway. This plan has been prepared by the Union Ministry of Culture and Tourism. All facilities for tourists will be developed at regular intervals on 230 km of the highway between Leh and Kargil. With this the journey from Leh to Kargil will be smooth and pleasant.

In order to spotlight Kargil in the field of tourism, an action plan is now being prepared for the development of many facilities for tourists here.

Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) Prahlad Singh Patel, said right now there were no public facilities on the route from Leh in Ladakh to Kargil. “We want oxygen parlours to be opened every 20 to 25 km on the highway where oxygen is provided along with medical facility. Arrangements for collecting litter will also be arranged. This infrastructure will be prepared by the Government of India but run by the local villagers,” he said

According to Patel, “people do not know much about the hundreds of heritage sites located in Leh-Ladakh and Kargil. The cultural mapping of all the heritage sites is also being done. One will get information from the Union Culture and Tourism Ministry about which heritage sites are located on the road from Leh to Kargil. It will be easier for tourists after making the Leh-Kargil road a tourist highway. They will be able to find public facilities on the ministry’s website.” — IANS