Gadkari Announces Rs 1,500 Cr Four-Laning Of Srinagar-Sonamarg Road

(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) Drass- Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday described the breakthrough achieved in the Zojila Tunnel project as a“golden day” in India's infrastructure history, saying the strategic project would emerge as a lifeline for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

The milestone was achieved after engineers blasted through the final stretch of rock inside the tunnel, connecting excavation works from both ends of the 13-km tunnel being built beneath the Zojila Pass.

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“Today is a golden day in India's infrastructure history. I am happy that this state-of-the-art tunnel will become a lifeline for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh,” Gadkari said after performing the breakthrough blast.

The Union minister said the project, being constructed in extremely challenging weather and terrain conditions, would ensure all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh, ending the seasonal isolation caused by heavy snowfall at the Zojila Pass.

Calling it a gift to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Gadkari said the approach works for the tunnel are expected to be completed by February 2028.

Congratulating engineers, workers and officials associated with the project, he said the achievement was the result of years of work carried out in harsh weather conditions.

“The workers and engineers have worked in extreme cold and difficult conditions. This tunnel has all the modern safety features and has also generated employment opportunities for local people,” he said.

Gadkari said the government had also managed to substantially reduce the cost of the project.

“The estimated cost had reached around Rs 12,000 crore. However, we are completing it at nearly Rs 7,000 crore, resulting in savings of about Rs 5,000 crore,” he said.

The minister expressed gratitude to labourers, consultants, engineers, officials of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL), which is executing the project, and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).

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Announcing a series of infrastructure initiatives for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Gadkari said significant progress was also being made on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

“Twenty tunnels on the highway have already been completed, while work is underway on five more. Once these are completed, travel time between Jammu and Srinagar will be reduced to around three hours. It is my dream and I assure you that it will be realised soon,” he said.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha described the breakthrough as a historic moment and congratulated the project team for achieving the milestone despite difficult working conditions.

“The pace of development in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will boost tourism, strengthen connectivity and improve national security,” Sinha said.

Expressing confidence that the remaining work would be completed on schedule, he said the Zojila Tunnel, together with the recently completed Sonamarg Tunnel, would provide significant relief to Amarnath pilgrims travelling to the Valley.

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In a video message, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena termed the project an engineering marvel and said it would become a landmark in the development journey of the region.

Congratulating the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Saxena said the tunnel would boost economic activity, encourage winter tourism and strengthen connectivity.

“Once completed, it will emerge as a new lifeline for Ladakh,” he said.

The Zojila Tunnel, one of the world's highest tunnel projects, is expected to provide year-round connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh. The project is designed to overcome the long-standing challenge posed by the Zojila Pass, which remains closed for several months every year due to heavy snowfall and avalanches.

Once operational, the tunnel is expected to reduce travel time across the pass to around 15 minutes while improving civilian movement, logistics and strategic mobility in the border region.

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