Bids for Zojila Tunnel can be submitted between April 1-8

Fresh bids for India’s ambitious tunnel project – the Zojila tunnel – in Jammu and Kashmir has recently been invited by the government. State-run National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) will be accepting contract queries till March 18, and bids for the contract can be thereafter submitted between April 1-8 as per the bid documents. The ambitious Zojila tunnel project will be built at an altitude of 4,000 m. Notably, it is expected to provide connectivity between Srinagar and Leh throughout the year, considering the current national highway that connects these two places remains shut for almost six months due to snowfall. The estimated cost of the project is reportedly set at Rs 4,899 crore by NHIDCL, with a construction time of seven years. Mumbai-based IL&FS had, in January last year, bagged the order to build the project at Rs 6,808 crore. However, it exited the project after the company ran into financial troubles. Construction contract for this project has been cancelled for the second time in three years.