Union minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari on September 28 reviewed the construction work of the strategically important Z-Morh and Zojila tunnels.
While the 6.5-km the Z-Morh tunnel is expected to be completed by next year, ahead of the target date of December 2023, the 14.15 km Zojila tunnel is also scheduled to be completed ahead of the target date of 2026, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited officials said.
Please click on the images below for a better look.
Both the tunnels are quite significant in nature and will help to keep the Union Territory of Ladakh connected for the whole year with the rest of the country. All Photographs: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com and S Iran/PTI Photo
Security personnel stand guard at Asias Largest Bi-directional Zojila Tunnel.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari along with MoS V K Singh inspects the ongoing work of the tunnel.
The Z-Morh tunnel between Gagangir and Sonmarg will provide connectivity in all weather conditions between Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir and Kargil in Ladakh.
Zojila Pass is the strategic link connecting the Leh-Ladakh region to Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, and with the rest of India.
Gadkari said his ministry is also building 20 tunnels of a total length of 32 km in Jammu and Kashmir and 11 tunnels of a total length of 20 km in Ladakh. The cost of building these 31 tunnels in Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will be around Rs 1.4 lakh crore, he said.
The tunnels will boost the tourism sector of both the UTs and keep the hassle-free movement of the armed forces during any weather conditions.
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.
Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
