J&K undertakes roadworks worth Rs 1.5 lakh cr: Nitin Gadkari

Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari told the media that the road works worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore are being taken up in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Gadkari examined the development of the Z-Morh Tunnel and the Zojila tunnel on September 28 in Sonmarg, Jammu and Kashmir, and said that these projects would enhance tourism opportunities and employment for the region, thereby uplifting the local economy. The Zojila tunnel, which is likely to be made by September 2026, is a 13.5-km tunnel and will be Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel enabling all-weather connectivity between Ladakh and Srinagar, which are cut off from each other during the winter months because of heavy snowfall. It is situated 11,578 feet above sea level. Gadkari said that it takes 3.5 hours to travel between Srinagar and Ladakh. The tunnel will decrease the travel time to 15 minutes. He requested the firms to achieve the construction work by 2023, before the general elections in 2024. Infrastructure major, Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited. (MEIL), is building the tunnel project ‘Zojila’ in the Himalayas in the hard terrain conditions in EPC mode. The project, which was first mooted in 2012, witnessed setbacks before it started in 2018. The tunnel and the approach road collectively cost Rs 4,500 crore. The project has seen long delays after multiple failed bids since 2013. Gadkari added that J&K would get 20 tunnels having a length of 32 km and Ladakh, 11 tunnels of 20 km. Image SourceAlso read: Highway, tunnel projects to reduce Delhi-Kashmir travel time