Srinagar, Apr 10: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday inspected Zojila Tunnel- all weather connectivity for Ladakh – alongside Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha and members of Parliament of Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Road Transport and Highways.

The construction of 13.14 km long Zojila tunnel and approach road is coming up at a cost of Rs 6800 crore. 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 and ventilation. The use of modern technology in this project has saved the Government of India more than 5000 crore rupees.

Under the Zojila Tunnel project,the main Zojila tunnel of 13,153 meters 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 shaft are proposed. So far 28% work of Zojila Tunnel has been completed.

With the construction of this tunnel, there will be all-weather connectivity for Ladakh. Currently the average travel time to cross the Zojila Pass sometimes takes three hours, after the completion of this tunnel the travel time will come down to 20 minutes. The reduction in travel time will ultimately result in fuel savings.

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.

Notably, 19 tunnels are being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir at a cost of Rs 25000 crore.

Zoji La tunnel to revolutionise connectivity between J&K and Kaniyakumari: Nitin Gadkari

The construction of the Zojila tunnel, a crucial infrastructure project in Kashmir, is set to revolutionize connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir and Kanniyakumari, the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced on. Monday.

He also said that the project aims to create all-weather hassle-free connectivity, and with its completion, it will bring the people of Jammu and Kashmir closer to the rest of the country like never before.

Gadkari also said that 14 tunnels are being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir at a cost of Rs 35,000 crores, and the construction work of the 13.14 km long Zojila tunnel and its approach road is already in progress. “The latest report reveals that 38% of the work is complete, and the project is expected to be finished in the next three to four years,” he added.

He further said that the Zojila tunnel, which is situated at an altitude of 11,578 ft above sea level, is a strategic passageway that connects Srinagar to Leh in Jammu and Kashmir. The tunnel will provide a year-round connection between the two regions, which remain cut off from each other for several months in a year due to snowfall and other natural calamities, the minister added.

He also said that the tunnel project is not only significant in terms of connectivity but also in terms of job creation and economic growth.

The construction of the tunnel, he said has generated employment opportunities for thousands of people, and the completed project will help in boosting tourism and trade in the region. “The Union Minister has also announced that the roads of Jammu and Kashmir will be made equivalent to American roads, which will further enhance the region’s connectivity and economic growth,” he added.

The project, he said is a significant milestone for India’s infrastructure development, and its completion will undoubtedly be a game-changer for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the country as a whole. “We look forward to witnessing the progress of this project and its impact on the region’s economy and society,” he said.