Union Minister Nitin Gadkari calls for early completion of the ambitious Zojila tunnel
- ByManjeet Singh | September 29, 2021
Union Minister for Roads, transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari, on Tuesday, called for early completion of the ambitious Zojila tunnel which is supposed to be completed by September 2026. During an inspection of the Zojila tunnel’s West portal in Baltal in Kashmir, he said that he had asked the managing director of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited, Krishna Reddy to speed up the work so that the tunnel can be inaugurated before Republic day of 2024.
At a height of 11,500 feet, the 14.5 km Zojila tunnel will be Asia’s longest bi-direction tunnel. It will provide constant access between Kashmir and Ladakh year-round since the ancient Zojila pass is usually covered in snow during the winter months. The tunnel will reduce travel time from the current 3.5 hours through the pass to a 15-minute drive, according to official estimates.
The tunnel with 18 kilometers of approach roads on each side will have three vertical shafts, a fully lit fire alarm system, and CCTV cameras–all connected to a SCADA center. Being built at a cost of more than Rs 4,600 crore, the tunnel is also going to prove a critical asset for the armed forces.
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