28% work of Zojila Tunnel has been completed, says Ministry
Nineteen tunnels are being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir at a cost of Rs.25,000 crore including the Rs.6,800 crore 13.14 km tunnel and approach road which is in progress in Zojila.
It is a 7.57 m high horseshoe-shaped single-tube, 2-lane tunnel, which will pass under the Zojila Pass in the Himalayas between Ganderbal in Kashmir and Drass town in Kargil district of Ladakh.
The project includes a Smart Tunnel (SCADA) system, which has been constructed using the New Austrian Tunneling Method. It is equipped with facilities like CCTV, radio control, uninterrupted power supply, ventilation.
The use of modern technology in this project has saved the Government more than Rs.5,000 crore, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said on 10 Apr 2023 after Minister Nitin Gadkari had inspected the project.
Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha and members of Parliament of Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Road Transport and Highways joined Gadkari in inspecting the Zojila Tunnel, Asia’s longest tunnel being built to establish all weather connectivity with Ladakh.
So far 28% work of Zojila Tunnel has been completed.
The project includes 13.153-m main Zojila tunnel with 4 culverts of total length of 810 meters, 4 Nilgrar tunnels of total length of 4,821 meters, 8 cut and covers of total length of 2,350 meters and three 500 meters, 391 meters and 220 meters of vertical ventilation shafts.
The terrain near Zojila Pass is extremely inhospitable, with many fatal accidents taking place here every year. After the completion of Zojila Tunnel, the chances of accidents will be zero.
“This tunnel will provide year-round connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh, which will be extremely important for the development of Ladakh, promotion of tourism, free movement of local goods and movement of Indian armed forces in case of emergency,” said the Ministry. fiinews.com
