New Delhi, Oct 15 (UNI) Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said the Zozila tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar valley and Leh (Ladakh plateau) on NH-1, and bring about an all-round economic and socio-cultural integration of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Initiating the ceremonial blasting for Zozila Tunnel in the Union Territory through video-conferencing, Mr Gadkari said it involves construction of a 14.15-km long tunnel at an altitude of about 3000 m under Zozila pass, presently motorable only for six months in a year, on NH-1 connecting Srinagar and Leh through Dras and Kargil.
He said it is one of the most dangerous stretch in the world to drive a vehicle and this project is also geo-strategically sensitive.
This will be the longest tunnel of Asia, which will improve the socio-economic scenario in the region, added Mr Gadkari, stating that about Rs 4000 crore were saved with the re-designing of this tunnel.
The Minister emphasised that with honest efforts, ‘We can take our country forward at lower costs’.
Mr Gadkari also expressed confidence that the project, though has six years’ completion schedule, will be completed before the end of present Government’s tenure, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the same.
He assured the formation of committees under the LG Leh and the LG J&K with the respective Chief Secretaries and officers of MoRTH and NHIDCL, to oversee the tunnel works and sort out the local issues.
Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited (MEIL) is constructing this all weather connectivity tunnel between Srinagar, Dras, Kargil, and Leh Regions.
Mr Gadkari requested MEIL MD PV Krishna Reddy to complete the works at the earliest.
