All You Need To Know About Zojila Pass Tunnel Project

As Narendra Modi-led government approved Zojila Pass tunnel project on Srinagar-Leh to improve connectivity, now the region won't be disconnected from the rest of the country during extreme snowfall. The current connectivity through NH1A remains blocked for over six months due to harsh weather conditions. The new route would enable swift commute from Srinagar via Baltal, Kargil and end at Leh. This is the second big infrastructure project in Kashmir valley after Chenab Bridge, the world's highest railway bridge.

Here are more interesting facts about the much-awaited tunnel project in Kashmir:

All weather connectivity

Situated at an altitude of 11,578 feet, Zojila Pass falls on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway which remains closed during winters (December to April) due to heavy snowfall, cutting off the Leh-Laddakh region from Kashmir. The tunnel will be built with the Parallel Escape (Egress) Tunnel excluding approaches on the Srinagar-Leh section connecting the National Highway-1A at 95km and at 118km in Jammu and Kashmir on engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) mode. It will be a 14-km two-lane bi-directional road with single tube tunnel.

Once operational, the tunnel would reduce the travel time of crossing Zojila Pass from 3.5 hours to 15 minutes and will also boost economic and socio-cultural integration of the region. The foundation stone will be laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the construction work would start this year. The entire project is being seen as the medium to boost local employment.

Cost of connectivity

The tunnel project will be completed in a period of seven years from the date of commencement of construction. The civil construction cost of the project is Rs 4,899 crore. However, the total capital cost of the project is Rs 6,808 crore as it includes the cost towards land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities as well as maintenance and operation cost of the tunnel for next four years.

Timeline

The project is being talked about for about twenty years. As per government sources, project tenders were issued four times for the project before but it was only after the government relaxed some technical and financial qualifications that contractors showed interest. The project will be implemented by the ministry of road transport and highways through the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited while the tender has been provided to the lowest bidder IL&FS Transportation.