Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday reviewed the construction work of strategically important Zojila and Z-Morh tunnels on the Srinagar-Leh highway.
The Union Minister also said all the projects undertaken by the BJP-led Central Government should be completed before the 2024 general elections.
The 13.5-km long tunnel, being constructed at a cost of 4,300 crores, will be Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel and will allow all-weather connectivity between Ladakh and Srinagar. Work on the project is expected to be completed by September 2026.
Meanwhile, the Z-Morh tunnel between Gagangir and Sonmarg will provide connectivity in all weather conditions between Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir and Kargil in Ladakh. The Zojila tunnel between Baltal and Minamarg on the Srinagar-Leh section will provide all-year connectivity between Leh and Srinagar. Addressing media persons on the occasion the Union Minister said that extensive road networks in the Himalayan Region will help boost the tourism sector in the
area.
Gadkari said that the Central Government has given a new impetus to the construction of new highways, tunnels and bridges which will bring transformative changes in the lives of people and will create huge employment opportunities for the local people.
He assured that work on the Zojila Tunnel is in full capacity and NHIDCL is geared up to continue the work in winter months. He stressed for putting in every effort in place to complete the project well before the scheduled date.
Pertinent to mention that, once completed the Zojila tunnel will be India’s longest road tunnel and Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel. Several bridges are being constructed along this route and a connecting tunnel from Z-Morh in the National Highway-1 to Zojila tunnel will be constructed in the Zojila Ghats between Sonamarg and Kargil.
The entire work is divided into two divisions in the 33 km span. Stressing upon the state of art infrastructure in the tunnel projects he said that appropriate security measures have been kept in place including vertical shafts at three places and adequate security and lighting measures with CCTV, fire alarm and heat detection systems at par with international standards.
He further highlighted various important tunnel, rail and road projects of the country that were completed on priority by the Government keeping in mind border security alongside development and said various infrastructure development projects are going on in full swing throughout Jammu and Kashmir.
The present site location falls into seismic zone IV and all precautionary measures have been provisioned to safeguard the structures provisioned in the project.
Earlier the Minister also reviewed the progress on Tunnel 1 and Tunnel 2 at Nilgrar site and Z-Morh site. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Gen. V.K. Singh, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, P.K Pole, IGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, DDC Chairperson Ganderbal, Nuzhat Ishfaq, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Krittika Jyotsna and officers/ Officials of NHIDCL were present on the occasion.