Work set to start on South Asia’s longest tunnel
NEW DELHI: Crossing the tough, and perennially snow-bound Zoji la Pass in Jammu and Kashmir will become easier in the near future with construction set to begin in May on a 14.1-km-long, state-of-the-art tunnel. The project could take up to seven years to complete.
The pass, located at a height of 12,000 feet, is on National Highway 1 between Srinagar and Leh in the western section of the Himalayan mountain ranges.
The bi-way tunnel, touted as South Asia’s longest when ready, will reduce travel time from three hours to a mere 15 minutes, said Anand Kumar, Managing Director, National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), the “Mini Ratna” company entrusted with the task.
NHIDCL was given the job of implementing the tunnel project after the Ministry of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping on an earlier occasion failed to undertake it. Kumar said they are now inviting bidders from across the globe for the project.
The tunnel would have some unique features like pedestrian safety passages every 250 metres, and vehicular safety passage at every 750 metres.
The road inside the tunnel will also have other features like lay-bys — an area at the side where vehicles may pull off and stop — and emergency telephone and communication systems at emergency exits at intervals of 125 m.
The tunnel, which will provide a new lifeline to the locals in terms of road connectivity, will also have interior and external lighting, CCTV cameras, emergency guidance lamps and proper vehicle guidance systems. It will also be equipped to tackle fire incidents.
Earlier, NHIDCL was to undertake the project on an annuity basis, when the cost is paid back later. But now they will undertake it in EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) mode, which Kumar says will make the work easier.
“Till now the Border Roads Organisation was handling this particular project. However, as the Ministry wanted to fast-track the work, it has been handed over to the NHIDCL. We till now have done two road shows in Delhi and Hyderabad to invite bidders for the Zoji La tunnel construction,” Kumar said in his office here. — IANS