With the world's tallest tunnel at Shinkun La, India will improve its defences in Ladakh against China and Pakistan.
India to boost Ladakh defence against China, Pakistan with world's highest tunnel at Shinkun La
Deepak 
The approval of the construction of the highest tunnel in the world beneath the Shinkun La by the Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marks a significant step forward in India's efforts to fortify the defence of Ladakh against both China and Pakistan.
The 4.1 kilometre Shinkun La tunnel on the Manali-Darcha-Padam-Nimu route will offer the Indian Army with all-weather access to the LoC with China and the LoC with Pakistan in the border regions of Ladakh. The Shinkun La is located at an altitude of 16703 feet. Moreover, an approach road is anticipated to be finished by December 2025.
Anurag Thakur, a Union minister, provided information about the cabinet decision and stated that the tunnel will be finished by December 2025 at a cost of Rs 1,681 crore.
All-weather road to LoC, LAC in Ladakh
“The tunnel under the Shinkun La is intended to provide all-weather road connectivity to Ladakh and this will be the shortest route to the border areas of the Union territory,” Anurag Thakur was quoted as saying by PTI.
“The Cabinet Committee on Security today approved the Shinku La tunnel for Ladakh area which will provide all-weather connectivity to the Ladakh region with the entire country,” the minister added.
“This (project) is also very important as far as the security and safety of the country is concerned…. It will also help in the movement of our security forces in that region.”
The tunnel under the Shinkun La is extremely important as Nimu in Ladakh is in close proximity to Kargil as well as Leh. This means that the Indian Army will have the ability to deploy troops and military hardware to the Line of Control (LoC) against Pakistan in the Kargil-Siachen sector or at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in East Ladakh against China during future conflicts.
