With a view to recover Burma by the British and the defence of China and maintaining the supply line to Chinese Nationalist Forces, a joint Command, namely, South East Asiatic Command with British, America and China was hurriedly formed in Assam under the Supreme Command of Admiral Lord Luis Mountbatten with his headquarters at Singapore and General Joseph W. Stilwell as Deputy Supreme Commander. General Stilwell was American President Roosevelt's special representative. His advance headquarters was at Taipha on the Chindwin in Hukawang valley of Myanmar beyond the Patkai. The rear headquarters was at Shillong. He was entrusted with additional responsibilities of the American commitment of supplies to the Chinese Nationalist Forces of General Issimo Shiang Kaishek which prompted the General to plan the road. Further, General Stilwell was commanding General of China, Burma, India and Chief of the Chinese Expeditionary Forces in India with responsibility to maintain direct liaison between the Chinese and the United States Forces. In order to maintain the supply line to China from Ledo Rail head in Assam, the road was planned in February, 1942 initially from Mogaung on the Myitkyina Railway on the Irrawadi river in the Kachin State of Myanmar (Burma).

The project was initially named Ledo Road. There was already a road for light vehicular traffic from Burma rail head of Lashi to Kunming in the Yunan Province of China hurriedly built in 1938 when the Japanese were troubling China. From Kunming, there was a railway to the New Nationalist Capital of Chungking. There was also railway construction between Myitkyina and Mogaung and Myitkyina-Lashio. At the same time Myitkyina air field had to be cleared from the Japanese. This was done by forming two specially trained Forces known as American-Kachin Rangers and Chindit Forces. They located harassed, attacked, killed the Japanese and blew-up their camps and pushed them towards Mandalay. Thus the line was cleared facilitating construction of the road.

After the war the road was continued to be maintained by the Political Officer and then by the CPWD, NEFA from zero mile to the border and kept open for civilian purpose including tourists with a Central Excise and Land customs Post at Nampong. Similarly, the Myanmar Government; but later abandoned it. The road became impossible for vehicular traffic due to heavy land slides. The portion between the zero mile and Jairampur - 23 Kim falling in Assam jurisdiction was handed over to Assam Government some years back for maintenance who in turn handed it over to NEC. But NEC did not pay attention to it and now the portion is worn out.

The Arunachal portion up to the border, about 36 Km, is still continued to be maintained particularly up to Nampong from Administrative and Security point of view, Nampong being an Administrative center with several establishments including Assam rifles Bn. Hqs.. At Jairampur bus services also regularly ply up to Nampong. But owing to insurgent activities the border was sealed by out Government several years back barring movement of civilians including the tribal(s) living on the border causing hindrance in their cultural relations and village economy by way of better system of trade with their counterparts.