The tunnel is being constructed using the latest technology available globally

Work on the strategically-important Zojila Tunnel between the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh is in full swing. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inspected the project’s progress on Monday (April 10, 2023). He was accompanied by Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and members of Parliament representing the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Road Transport and Highways.

HERE IS ALL THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE PROJECT

1. Once complete, the 13.4-km long Zojila Tunnel will be Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel. It is being constructed below the Zojila Pass in the Himalayas between Baltal in Ganderbal district of Jammu & Kashmir and Minimarg in Drass town of Kargil district of Ladakh.

2.The Zojila Tunnel will provide year-round connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh. This will be extremely beneficial for the movement of the Indian armed forces personnel deployed in the strategically important areas along the border with China. It will also promote tourism in the region and help in smoother movement of goods.

3. The terrain near Zojila Pass (11,650 feet) is extremely inhospitable, with many fatal accidents taking place here every year. The route remains closed during the winter months due to heavy snowfall.

4. Currently, the average travel time to cross the Zojila Pass can go up to three hours. After the completion of this tunnel, the travel time is likely to come down to 20 minutes.

5. Nineteen tunnels are being constructed at a cost of Rs 25000 crore. The centrepiece of the project is the 13.14-km long Zojila Tunnel and approach road at a cost of Rs 6800 crore.

6. Nearly 28% work of Zojila Tunnel has been completed so far. Authorities have been quoted as saying that they are trying to complete the project by December 2026.

7. The Zojila Tunnel is a 7.57-m high horseshoe-shaped single-tube, 2-lane tunnel. It will be equipped with facilities like CCTV, radio control, uninterrupted power supply, ventilation.

8. In addition to the main Zojila Tunnel, the project includes four bridges (total length of 810 meters), four Nilgrar tunnels (total length of 4,821 meters) eight cut-and-cover stretches (total length of 2,350 meters) and three vertical ventilation shafts (of 500 meters, 391 meters and 220 meters).

9. According to an official estimate, the use of modern technology in this project will lead to savings of over Rs 5000 crore. The project's Smart Tunnel system has been constructed using the New Austrian Tunneling Method.

10. "With the development of the Zojila Tunnel, we aim to achieve all-weather hassle-free connectivity between Kashmir to Kanyakumari," Gadkari tweeted after inspecting the progress of the project.