ZOJILA TUNNEL(14.2 KM)

A brief analysis by AJAZ ALI




ZOJILA TUNNEL the only hope for LADAKH region for full-time connectivity,,
so here we go...

     

The Zojila project at 14.2 km, it is the country’s longest road tunnel on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh national highway is situated at an altitude of 11,578 feet.                                                            

    IL&FS bagged the project last year and the foundation stone was laid by PM Narendra Modi during his visit to the state in May. The tunnel will cut down the time taken to cross the Zojila pass from the 3.5 hours to 15 minutes. The pass is situated at an altitude of 11,578 ft on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway and remains closed during winters due to heavy snowfall, which cuts off Ladakh region from Kashmir. 

    

                                            

Leh is connected to the rest of the country through two main roads: Jammu-Srinagar-Zojila-Kargil-Leh and the Manali-Sarchu-Leh roads. The movement of traffic is limited to around six months on these two routes because of snowfall in the passes and threat of avalanches. The Zojila pass on the Srinagar-Leh route is situated at an altitude of 11,587 feet on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh national highway. Due to heavy snowfall during the winters, the highway remains closed from December to April, thereby making air the only mode of connectivity. When the project will be completed, it will leg-up the employment as local businesses will get easily connected to the National market and the tourists will also be able to visit the area throughout the year.                                              

         kargil which remain disconnected with rest of the world through road link for several months in a year. Due to the heavy snowfall and avalanche nearby to Zojila pass, which the entire region remains cut off from state and country via road, people gets the shortage of foodstuff and other basic essentials things.

When the project starts:

first of all in October 2013 Cabinet approves the road tunnel project followed by May 2017 Four private players bid for the 10,000 Crore Indian Rupees project namely ILFS, L&T, Jaypee Infratech and Reliance Infra.
The Contract to be awarded to the bidders by June end and work to start in August 2017 later in July 2017 IL&FS the company which developed Chenani-Nashri Tunnel became as lowest cost bidder for the tunnel. It quoted cost of ₹4,899 crore(US$682 million), and a period of 7 years to construct a tunnel.
In January 2018, Union Cabinet approves Asia's largest 14.2 km bi-directional tunnel(zojila tunnel) to be built at cost of ₹6,809 crore including land acquisition cost. Tunnel to be ready in five years.
May 2018 Foundation stone laid by Prime Minister and work started but unfortunately the company cames under financial crises Following the financial crisis at IL&FS, the road transport, and highways ministry is worried whether the project will be completed as per schedule.

A few days back The Economic Times report says that the government is now mulling a retender for the tunnel. The Zojila tunnel might be the most significant of IL&FS’ pending projects, but there are more projects caught in the cracks.

Inshallah,, we hope for speedy on fresh bidding.

height of snow near zojila pass