Roads and highways to get INR 97,000 crore boost, announced honorable Finance Minister Arun Jaitley as he presented the Budget 2016. With current roads in dilapidated state and numerous cases of death tolls on narrow roads with hairpin curves, we sure need better roads and highways.
Talking of the scariest roads in India, some routes are so bad that they can give chills to even the most seasoned drivers. The narrow roads, sharp turns, low hanging cliffs, and harsh climatic conditions can lead them to death bed, instead of the planned destination.
Besides bad maintenance, sometimes the very location of a road makes it a scary drive. Out of the many, we bring you a handpicked list of the scariest roads in India that have claimed many lives in the past. But still, some daring men might see an element of thrill in such drives. Have a look and decide which side are you on!
1. Khardungla Pass: World’s Highest Motorable Road
Where: Ladakh, on the Caravan Route that was once the Silk Route between India & China
What makes it scary: The road is scary for the sheer invincible height of 5,602 m above the sea level. Additionally, the road is not paved and is slippery due to the frozen ice & dirt mix. And then there are the hairpin turns that are nightmares of even the most experienced drivers of the region.
2. Kishtwar Kailash Highway: Sharp Turns, Overhanging Cliffs, and No Guard Rails
Where: Eastern extremity of the Kishtwar district of Jammu
What makes it scary: The road is windy, narrow, and without guard rail for about 150 m. The overhanging cliff is so low that a Tata Sumo or similar car would barely fit. The sharp turns with cliff obstruct the view, making it all the more difficult to make those turns. One mistake and the drop is of about 600 m.
3. Killar – Kishtwar Route: A replica of the Kishtwar Kailash Highway
Where: Pangi Valley, Himachal Pradesh
What makes it scary: Much like its twin road – the Kishtwar Kailash Highway – the road runs without guard rails, has overhanging hills & sharp turns, and is narrow. The road is not an easy drive even in broad daylight, let alone at night.
4. Zoji La Pass: Prone to landslides
Where: 9 km from Sonamarg, between Ladakh and Kashmir
What makes it scary: The road, at an altitude of 3,538 m above sea level, is frightfully narrow and extremely slippery due to the year-round snow and dirt mix. It gets muddy during the rains and gets blocked during the storms. Besides, frequent landslides have made it one of the scariest roads in India.
5. Chang La Pass: Third Highest Motorable Route in the World
Where: Between Pangong lake and Leh in Ladakh region
What makes it scary: At a whooping elevation of 5,360 m above sea level, the road remains snow-covered throughout the year. This makes the road slippery. Also, one can feel the scarcity of oxygen while on this road. The low temperatures in this region add to the travel woes of those commuting through this third highest motorable road in the world.