“Revolutionizing the Zojila Tunnel: Transforming Transportation Infrastructure”
The Zojila tunnel is a major infrastructure project that is being constructed to improve connectivity in the region and establish all-weather connectivity between the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.
Here are some detailed points about the project:
- The Zojila tunnel will be India’s longest road tunnel and is expected to be Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel, boasting a length of 14.15 km.
- The tunnel is being constructed in the Zojila Ghats, which is a high mountain pass between Sonmarg and Kargil. As part of the project, a connecting tunnel from Z-Morh on NH1 to the Zojila tunnel will also be built.
- The project involves the development and expansion of the 18.475-km highway between Z-Morh to Zojila. A 3-km stretch will be expanded, while the rest will be newly developed. The highway will have two twin-tube tunnels, five bridges, and two snow galleries.
- The work on the entire 33-km span is spread between two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir; and Ladakh.
- The tunnel is being built at a cost of more than Rs 4,600 crore and is expected to be completed by December 2023.
The Zojila tunnel is much needed because:
- Currently, the commute between Srinagar and Leh, the largest city in Ladakh, takes over 10 hours on a good day and passes through extremely inhospitable terrain.
- The Zojila Pass is a high mountain pass through which one has to travel to make the journey.
- During harsh winters, this route is closed due to fears of avalanches, landslides, and slippery roads, with areas beyond the pass cut off from the rest of the country for at least five months.
- With the Zojila pass shut, air connectivity is the only option, and airfares can skyrocket to over Rs 40,000 during peak winter months.
- The upcoming Zojila tunnel will provide perennial connectivity between Ladakh and the rest of the country.
- This will not just benefit civilians living and employed in the region but also the military, by expediting the movement of troops and supplies in this vitally important strategic region.
Overall, the Zojila tunnel is a crucial project that will not only improve connectivity but also promote economic development and strategic security in the region.