Jammu, January 04: After Basohli cable stayed bridge, the first in North India, Jammu and Kashmir is all set to get another first in terms of the longest tunnel of South Asia in the years to come as the much awaited contract for the remaining and the most difficult part of the Srinagar-Leh-Kargil all-weather tunnel was finally bagged by IRB infrastructure with a deadline of 2023 even as the first phase is expected to be operational by 2017.
The focus has suddenly shifted to Jammu and Kashmir as the government now wants speed to what was already decided but stuck in the official bottle necks and it would only be in the interest of the state that the local government understands the new order at centre and spends the money accordingly lest it lapses the grants like previous years.
Zojila Pass Tunnel, Banihal Tunnel, Widening Of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, Basohli Bridge, Mughal Road And Kishtwar –Anantnag Tunnel are some of the projects that are going to give huge impetus to the development of Jammu and Kashmir only if the state government is wise enough to utilize the funds in fair manner so that union government opens up its coffers for the development of this troubled state.
While Zojilla pass tunnel would add to the glamour to Ladakh by making the journey all weather and easy it would also be a boost for tourism as it would be the first such attempt in South Asia.
The All-year road connectivity between Srinagar and Ladakh would now be a reality as IRB Infrastructure Developers has bagged Rs 10050 crore order to construct the Zojila tunnel on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh highway in Jammu and Kashmir.
The company received a Letter of Award (LoA) from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for the construction, operation and maintenance of the longest tunnel in South Asia, Zojila pass tunnel, in Jammu and Kashmir, a statement issued in Jammu said.
“It is the biggest national highway project awarded in India in terms of project cost with a tunnel length spanning 14.08 km and costing of Rs 10050 crore,” company’s Chairman and Managing Director Virendra Mhaiskar said.
“This project has a strategic and socio-economic importance as it will provide the much-needed all-weather connectivity between Kashmir valley and Ladakh, which remains cut-off during winter due to heavy snowfall and hence assumes national importance,” he added.
The project also involves construction of a tunnel spanning a length of 14.08 km and an approach road of 10.8 km with three vertical ventilation shafts, a snow gallery of 700 meters and avalanche protection measures.
The construction of the tunnel is scheduled to be completed in seven years and the concession period is 22 years.
The funding for the construction of the Zojilla tunnel was recently announced in the Rs 80000 crore Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan for Jammu and Kashmir.
Work is already in progress on another tunnel near Z-Morh, 20 kms away from Zojila pass, on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh highway.
Coming up at a cost of Rs 2716.90 crore, the Z-Morh tunnel is expected to be completed by 2017. The 6.5 km long tunnel will connect Gagangeer directly with Sonamarg.
Once the two tunnels are put in place, the journey time from Kashmir to Ladakh will be reduced drastically and the entire stretch will become motorable throughout the year.
With the completion of all these projects the Jammu and Kashmir state would actually be a dream destination for any tourist around the world where connectivity would not be a problem and infrastructure would be world class. But for that we need time and will to do it.