Kashmir-Kanyakumari dream road by 2024, says Nitin Gadkari

Samaan Lateef

Srinagar, April 10

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inspected the strategically important Zoji La tunnel on Monday. The tunnel will reduce the travel time from 3.5 hours to 15 minutes to Ladakh where China has been aggressively pushing its territorial claims along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). He also said projects worth Rs 1,25,000 crore were being taken up by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in J&K. The government has been taking up strategically important works on priority.

It could be one of the very few development projects in India to be completed ahead of its deadline which was fixed for November 2026. Gadkari, along with a 13-member Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Road Transport and Highways, took stock of the ongoing work at Asia’s longest tunnel.

According to Gadkari, “Kashmir to Kanyakumari road was a dream for us. From Rohtang to Ladakh, four tunnels will be constructed. From Leh, we will come to Kargil and join Zoji La and Z-Morh tunnels. A new road will reduce distance between Delhi and Chennai by 1,312 km. This dream will come true by the start of 2024.”

“With the construction of the Zoji La tunnel, we aim to achieve all-weather hassle-free connectivity between Kashmir and Kanyakumari,” Gadkari said. The need for the Zoji La tunnel was first felt during the Kargil War in 1999. The recent incursions by China made it an urgent necessity.

The tunnel, which will reduce the distance between Baltal and Minamarg from 40 km to 13 km, will provide logistics flexibility and operational mobility to the Army. To be built at a cost of Rs 2,600 crore, the horseshoe-shaped Zoji La tunnel will be India’s longest street burrow and the highest tunnel at 3,485 metres. The use of modern technology has saved the government more than Rs 5,000 crore, the minister said, adding that tunnels were being constructed in J&K at the cost of Rs 25,000 crore.

Presently, the Zoji La pass that connects Srinagar with Ladakh is motorable for only six months as the snow accumulation makes it inaccessible during winters.

The Union minister also said the Z-Morh tunnel, which connects Gagangir with Sonamarg and provides all-weather connectivity to the resort in Ganderbal, will be inaugurated in October.

The minister said about 38% of the work had been completed, and a part of the project will be inaugurated this year for providing relief to the people.

41 tunnels for J&K, Ladakh

• Since 2014, 500-km road network has been completed and 1,700 km roads are being constructed, costing Rs 75,000 cr, says Gadkari.
• 41 tunnels are being constructed in J&K and Ladakh, costing Rs 45,000 crore. Ropeways worth Rs 5,000 crore will be constructed.