The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari Monday said about 41 significant tunnels are being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh at a cost of Rs 45,000 crore and they expect to inaugurate the Zojila tunnel in October 2023.
“About 41 significant tunnels are being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh at a cost of Rs 45,000 crore. Ropeways worth Rs 5,000 crore will be constructed in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir,” the Union Minister said.
Meanwhile, while inspecting Asia’s longest tunnel to establish all weather connectivity for Ladakh on Monday, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said that they expect to inaugurate the tunnel in October 2023.
“We shall be able to inaugurate the construction of 13.14 km long Zojila tunnel by October 2023,” Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways said during a press conference alongside Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha and members of Parliament of Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Road Transport and Highways.
He said that the tunnel’s approach road is coming up at a cost of Rs 6800 crore.
“It is a 7.57 m high horseshoe-shaped single-tube, 2-lane tunnel, which will pass under the Zojila Pass in the Himalayas between Ganderbal in Kashmir and Drass town in Kargil district of Ladakh,” he said.
The Minister said that in order to make the journey between Jammu and Srinagar comfortable, three corridors worth Rs 35,000 crores are being constructed.
He said that the earlier distance of 320 kms between Jammu and Srinagar will be reduced by 70 km after the completion of these corridors.
The design of four laning of Jammu-Srinagar highway is based on geo-technical and geo-scientific investigations to reduce the obstacles caused by landslides, the Minister informed the gathering.
Gadkari said that a new 78 km four-lane ring road is being constructed in Srinagar at a cost of Rs 4,660 crores.
The Minister further said that a four lane road will be constructed from Khanabal to Panjtarni to ease up the journey of Amarnath pilgrimage.
He said that by the improvement in road infrastructure, J&K is going to witness a three to four times increase in tourist footfall in the coming years.
He said that there are geological hiccups coming up in the areas of Ladakh but that the government of India is committed to the construction of roads, bridges and tunnels. “These all constructions will help Jammu and Kashmir to have all weather road connectivity to the length and breadth of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that the Zojilla tunnel project includes a Smart Tunnel (SCADA) system, which has been constructed using the New Austrian Tunneling Method.
While talking to the media persons, the Minister said that the tunnel is equipped with facilities like CCTV, radio control, uninterrupted power supply and ventilation.
“The use of modern technology in this project has saved the Government of India more than 5000 crore rupees,” the Union Minister said.
Giving details of the Zojila Tunnel, the Union Minister said that the main Zojila tunnel of 13,153 meters with 4 culverts of total length of 810 meters, 4 Nilgrar tunnels of total length of 4,821 meters, 8 cut and covers of total length of 2,350 meters and three 500 meters, 391 meters and 220 meters of vertical ventilation shaft are proposed. So far 28% work of Zojila Tunnel has been completed.
The Union Minister said that with the construction of this tunnel, there will be all-weather connectivity for Ladakh. Currently the average travel time to cross the Zojila Pass sometimes takes three hours, after the completion of this tunnel the travel time will come down to 20 minutes. The reduction in travel time will ultimately result in fuel savings.
“The terrain near Zojila Pass is extremely inhospitable, with many fatal accidents taking place here every year. After the completion of Zojila Tunnel, the chances of accidents will be zero,” the minister said.
The Minister said that this tunnel will provide year-round connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh, which will be extremely important for the development of Ladakh, promotion of tourism, free movement of local goods and movement of Indian armed forces in case of emergency.
The Union Minister said that 19 tunnels are being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir at a cost of Rs 25000 crore.
He said that a rope way is also coming up for the pilgrims at the ShankarAchraya temple in Srinagar while a tunnel is also coming up at historic Mughal Road which will connect Poonch to Kashmir.
The Minister also said that Jammu and Kashmir will be connected with the Kanyakumari very soon and that after this project gets through there will be huge thrust in tourism of Kashmir.
“The tourism will see an increase by 4 percent once Jammu and Kashmir gets connected with Kanyakumari,” the Minister said.
He said that the employment will also witness an increase once these projects are completed. “There will also be an increase in orchards’ production and apple growers should be able to sell their produce in Newlands and Australia,” he said.