Centre digs out way to Leh and Kargil with Zojila pass tunnel

The Centre has paved way for constructing the strategically significant Zojila pass tunnel project in Jammu and Kashmir to provide all-weather connectivity with Srinagar, Kargil and Leh that remain disconnected from the rest part of world during extreme snowfall.

The project is targeted to be completed in seven years at an estimated cost of `6,809 crore. Zojila pass is situated at an altitude of 11,578 feet on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway which remains closed during winters (December to April) due to heavy snowfall and avalanches.

This cuts off Leh-Ladakh region from Kashmir and other parts of the country. Sources said the road link between Kashmir and Leh-Ladakh region remains operation only for six months while during the rest of the year the route is completely closed.

"The main objective of the project is to provide allweather connectivity to strategically important Leh region in Jammu and Kashmir," said a senior transport ministry official.

The cabinet committee on economic affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave its approval to the project. The tunnel will be a bidirectional single tube tunnel with a parallel escape (egress) tunnel approaching on Srinagar-Leh section.

The project, officials said, will also bring about all round economic and socio-cultural integration of these regions. The project has strategic and socio-economic importance and shall be an instrument for the development of the economically backward districts in Jammu and Kashmir.

The construction period of the project is seven years. The civil construction cost of the project is `4,899.42 crore while the total capital cost of the project is `6,808.69 crore.

It includes the cost towards land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities as well as maintenance and operation cost of tunnel for four years, officials said.

The project aims at construction of 14.15-km-long two- lane bi-directional single tube tunnel with a parallel 14.2-km-long egress tunnel excluding approaches between Baltal and Minamarg in the state.

The project will be implemented by the ministry of road transport and highways through the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.