~6,809crore Zojila tunnel gets cabinet nod

NEW DELHI : The Union cabinet on Wednesday approved the construction of Asia’s longest bi-directional Zojila Pass Tunnel, which will provide an all-weather connectivity and reduce the travel time between Srinagar and Leh to 15 minutes from the current 3.5 hours.

The cabinet committee on economic affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave its go-ahead to the 14.2-km long tunnel project that will incur a cost Rs 6,809 crore.

“Zojila tunnel will be the longest bi-directional tunnel in Asia. (Its) construction period (will be) seven years because of a very difficult terrain where in some areas temperature dips to minus 45 degree celsius. The tunnel shall be a engineering marvel as first of its kind in such a geographical area,” road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said.

“Defence forces have to face hard time ensuring supplies to border posts during winters. This pass is most strategic for the entire Kargil sector which has seen intrusion and war in the past,” Gadkari said. He said the prime minister will lay the foundation stone of the project and work is likely to start this year.

Zojila pass is situated at an altitude of 11,578 feet on Srinagar-kargil-leh National Highway which remains closed during winters (December to April) due to heavy snowfall and avalanches cutting off Leh-ladakh region from Kashmir.

Earlier, the government in a statement said apart from providing all- weather connectivity between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh, the project will bring about all round economic and sociocultural integration of these regions.

“The project has strategic and socio-economic importance,” it added.

TO BE COMPLETED IN 7 YRS, WILL PROVIDE AN ALLWEATHER CONNECTIVITY AND REDUCE THE TRAVEL TIME BETWEEN SRINAGAR AND LEH TO 15 MINUTES FROM THE CURRENT 3.5 HOURS