Tunnel work to be finished next year

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 20

Amid the ongoing tension with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the authorities in Kashmir on Monday said that the work on the two tunnels along the strategic Srinagar-Ladakh road was being carried out on a war-footing.

The 6.5-km Z-Morh tunnel and Zojila tunnel are part of the strategic project for ensuring round-the-year connectivity between the Kashmir and Ladakh regions which remain closed during the winters due to heavy snowfall.

An official spokesman in Srinagar said the Z-Morh tunnel project, worth Rs 2,379 crore, is expected to be completed by June 30, 2021, and would provide round-the-year connectivity to Sonamarg.

The information was given at a meeting of National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), which was chaired by Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam.

An official spokesman said the works under the Zojila project were also being taken up.

It was mentioned that the project included a 14.15-km tunnel and an 18-km approach road between Z-Morh and Zojila tunnel as a single integrated package, besides a carriage way, two snow galleries, four major bridges and 18 avalanche protection dams. The project will cost Rs 4,430 crore and is expected to be operational by June 2026 and will enable round-the-year connectivity to Ladakh.