Srinagar: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari along with Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha on Monday visited Zojila Tunnel – Asia’s longest tunnel to inspect work being established for all-weather connectivity to Ladakh including members of Parliament of Parliamentary Consultative Committee of Road Transport and Highways.
As per the administration, the construction of a 13.14 km long Zojila tunnel and approach road is coming up for Rs 6800 crore. It is a 7.57 m high horseshoe-shaped single-tube, 2-lane tunnel, which will pass over the Zojila Pass in the Himalayas connecting central Kashmir with Kargil.
The project includes a Smart Tunnel (SCADA) system, which has been constructed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method. It is equipped with facilities like CCTV, radio control, an uninterrupted power supply, and ventilation. The use of modern technology in this project has saved the Government of India more than 5000 crore rupees, it said.
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Under the Zojila Tunnel project, the main Zojila tunnel of 13,153 meters with 4 culverts of a total length of 810 meters, 4 Nilgrar tunnels of a total length of 4,821 meters, 8 cut and covers of a total length of 2,350 meters, and three 500 meters, 391 meters and 220 meters of the vertical ventilation shaft is proposed. So far 28% work on the Zojila Tunnel has been completed.
With the construction of this tunnel, there will be all-weather connectivity to Ladakh.
Currently, the average travel time to cross the Zojila Pass takes three hours, after the completion of this tunnel – it will come down to 20 minutes. The reduction in travel time will ultimately result in fuel savings.
According to the administration, 19 tunnels are being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir for Rs 25000 crore.
(GNS)
