The Border Roads Organization (BRO), which was entrusted with the repair of the 209-km Sumdoh-Kaza-Gramfu road in June-end, has completed the work in just four months.

• The road is strategically important as the nation shares the border with China in the Spiti valley. The BRO authorities said the maximum resources were mobilised and special repairs were undertaken to complete the black-topping on the road. Earlier, the work was to be carried out by the state government. However, the Centre cancelled its notification dated April 23, 2020, in which it had decided to hand over the maintenance of the highway to the state government. The work was then entrusted to the BRO.
• Sources in the BRO said heavy duty mobile hot mix plant was used so that different stretches could be covered in the shortest time-frame by reducing the lead distance from the plant to the work site. The locals had appreciated the efforts of the BRO.
• Residents of the Kaza panchayat and others, for whom the road was a lifeline, said they always had faith in the BRO.
• Residents of the Spiti region had also lodged a protest against the decision to hand over this highway to the state government for maintenance.
• The sources said a detailed project report for the widening of Kaza- Gramfu road had already been submitted to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the approval was awaited. The widening was based on the engineering procurement construction mode.
• Commuters, especially Army men, will be relieved with the repair of the Sumdoh-Kaza-Gramfu road as it will reduce the travel time by approximately 4 hours.