Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has launched the construction work on Zojila tunnel and exuded confidence that the strategic project which will provide all-year connectivity between Srinagar valley and Leh will be completed ahead of schedule.
The project has a complete schedule of six years.
Gadkari also addressed an event after the virtual launch of construction work of the 14.15-km Zojila tunnel project through the ceremonial first blast.
The project holds strategic significance as Zojila Pass is situated at an altitude of 11,578 feet on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway and remains closed during winters due to heavy snowfall.
Once completed, the tunnel, projected as Asia's longest would reduce the travel time from 3 hours to 15 minutes with avalanche-free travel on the Srinagar-Leh section of Nh1.
He said the re-modeling of the project has resulted in savings to the tune of over Rs 4,000 crore to the public exchequer without any compromise on safety, security, and quality.
The Minister emphasized that with honest efforts, "we can take our country forward at lower costs. The watershed moment in the road history of the UTs of Jammu & Kashmir & Ladakh is finally here... One of the most difficult stretches to drive and build, the geo-sensitive Zojila stretch is strategically important to the defense of our country.”
"Zojila tunnel will not only provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar, Drass, Kargil, and Leh but it will also further strengthen the economic and social-cultural integration of both the Union Territories," Gadkari said.
This tunnel when completed will be a landmark achievement in the history of modern India, the Minister said.
"It will also be of great importance to the Defence of the country, in view of the fact that massive military activities along our borders in Ladakh, Gilgit, and Baltistan regions are taking place," Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) said.
The travel tourism sector will get a maximum boost and generate employment for the locals, the Minister said and added: "We are ensuring robust safety measures in case of any emergency for the travelers crossing the Zojila tunnel.”
He assured formation of committees under LG Leh and LG J&K with respective Chief Secretaries and officers of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to oversee tunnel work and to sort out local issues.
Gadkari informed that seven tunnel roads are under construction in the Jammu and Kashmir region. He said construction of the 8,450-metre-long twin-tube tunnel between Qazigund and Banihal will be completed by the coming March.
The work on 2,968-metre-long 6-single tunnels the road between Ramban and Banihal is due for completion in December 2021.
Further, the 450-meter-long tunnel between Khilani and Kishtwar will be ready by June 2022.
The Minister further informed that DPRs (detailed project reports) have been completed for the 4.5-km-long Chenani-Anantnag tunnel, the 10.2-km-long tunnel at Sinthan Pass at a cost of Rs 4,600 crore, the Rs 350-crore Khakhlani Byepass tunnel, and the 10-km-long tunnel between Chhatru and Anantnag at a cost of Rs 5,400 crore and tenders for these will be out shortly.
Gadkari also referred to the construction of Delhi-Katra Green Expressway at a cost of Rs 21,000 crore, which will reduce the distance between the two important places to only 650 km.
He informed that land the acquisition is underway for the same, and the work will begin on this stretch by the coming December. He said it is being developed as a modern highway in line with London design of transportation with weather information available to drivers.
The Minister said Udhampur to Ramban highway will be completed by December.
