Ganderbal, Jun 9 (KNS) Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday described the breakthrough achieved in the Zojila Tunnel project as a landmark moment in the country’s infrastructure development, saying the strategic corridor would provide uninterrupted access between Kashmir and Ladakh throughout the year.
Speaking after the breakthrough ceremony, Gadkari said the tunnel ranks among India’s most ambitious engineering ventures and has been executed under challenging geographical and climatic conditions while adhering to international safety norms.
He said the project had overcome several hurdles over the years before gaining momentum in the past decade, adding that authorities succeeded in implementing it at a lower cost than initially envisaged.
The minister lauded the contribution of engineers, technical experts and workers involved in the construction, noting that a large section of the workforce was drawn from local communities despite the demanding conditions at high altitude.
According to Gadkari, the tunnel will significantly cut travel disruptions caused by heavy snowfall and adverse weather, while opening new opportunities for tourism, commerce and regional development in Ladakh and the Kashmir Valley.
He said the project would also strengthen connectivity in a strategically important border region and improve the movement of people and goods.
Announcing a series of upcoming works for Ladakh, Gadkari said a 48-km southern bypass around Leh, estimated to cost about Rs 1,000 crore, and a 7.6-km northern bypass worth around Rs 200 crore would be taken up to ease traffic congestion in the region.
He further said construction of the twin-tube tunnel at Fatu La is expected to commence within the next few months, while preparations for the proposed Tela Pass tunnel have entered the final planning stage.
The minister also announced plans to upgrade and widen the Srinagar-Gumri highway to enhance road connectivity and integrate it with the emerging transport network linked to the Zojila corridor.
Reaffirming the Centre’s focus on infrastructure expansion in frontier and mountainous regions, Gadkari said efforts were underway to ensure reliable all-season road links to remote areas across the Himalayas.(KNS).
