Anurag Thakur Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister on Sunday reviewed the construction work of the Zojila Pass tunnel in the Kargil district of Ladakh.
The union minister informed that the 14.15 km long tunnel will play an important role in joining Srinagar-Kargil-Leh.
The tunnel is set to be the longest in Asia that will provide all-year connectivity between Srinagar valley and Leh. It is one of the most dangerous stretches in the world to drive a vehicle and this project is also geo-strategically sensitive.
Officials said the work on the 6412 meters long main tunnel was going on but no details of achievement were shared. They however told the visiting minister that the work will go on uninterrupted during winters also.
Zojila tunnel is located at the existing highway (NH-01) starting from Sonamarg and ending at Minamarg (Ladakh) at an elevation ranging from 2700m to 3300m, thus making the 13.2 km tunnel as the longest tunnel at this elevation in Asia, according to an official spokesman.
The site falls under seismic zone IV thus requiring precautionary measures. Being executed in DBFOT, the tunnel would cost Rs 2378 crore.
Zojila Tunnel project will make the travel on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh Section of NH-1 free from avalanches, would enhance safety, and would reduce the travel time from more than 3 hours to 15 minutes.