Rajnath Singh leaves for Ladakh, to inaugurate bridge over Shyok River

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is all set to leave for Ladakh from Delhi on Monday, October 21. In a tweet shared by the former BJP President's official handle, it stated that he is leaving New Delhi for Ladakh to inaugurate a new bridge. Announcing his schedule, Singh revealed that he will be visiting the forward areas with the Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS), General Bipin Rawat. Along with it, he will be inaugurating the Shyok River bridge.

Visiting forward bases

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be visiting the forward bases in Ladakh. This development comes at a juncture when the Indian Army has carried out a major exercise codenamed ‘Chang Thang’ in the high-altitude areas of Ladakh close to the China border. According to reports, there has been a deployment of a large number of infantry troops along with frontline tank regiments during the exercise. Along with it, an armoured brigade has been deployed on the China border for many years. 

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Inauguration of 'Col Chewang Rinchen Setu'

The former Chief Minister of UP, Rajnath Singh, is all set to inaugurate the 'Col Chewang Rinchen Setu' bridge on October 21. According to reports, the bridge is built over the Shyok River between Durbuk and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh. The purpose of the bridge is to reduce travel time by about half and help in the development of border areas and villages across the Shyok River. It is 45 km east of Line of Actual Control with China and is built at an altitude of 14,560 feet in the forward area of Ladakh region. Further, the bridge is built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). It is named after late Colonel Chewang Rinchen, a decorated officer of the Indian Army from Ladakh. Col Chewang Rinchen was awarded Maha Vir Chakra in 1952. 

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