Zojila Tunnel

40% work on Zojila tunnel over; terrain, weather challenges push deadline

Difficult terrain and weather challenges have pushed the deadline for completion of the Zojila tunnel, which will provide all-weather connectivity between the Kashmir valley and the Ladakh region, to December 2030, according to officials. The tunnel, said to be the longest of its kind in Asia and at the highest altitude, will significantly cut down the time to cross the Zojila pass from four hours to just 15 minutes, they said. Officials said that while 40 per cent of work on the 13-km-long tunnel is already over, the challenges posed by the terrain and weather are such that the rest of the work is taking so much time. "The area is severely avalanche-prone. The work had to be stopped multiple times due to the difficulties posed by the weather and the terrain. The tunnel was to be completed by December 2026. But now, keeping the challenges in mind, the deadline has been revised to December 2030," Captain IK Singh of the Border Roads Organisation told PTI. The tunnel project through

Updated On : 30 Jul 2023 | 12:22 PM IST

Work on Zojila tunnel in full swing, project to be completed by Dec 2026

The work on the strategic Zojila tunnel an all-weather connection between the Kashmir valley and the Ladakh region -- is going on at a rapid pace and over 40 per cent of the drilling has been completed, the construction company said on Sunday. The company said it is hopeful of completing the project by December 2026. The tunnel project through the mighty Zojila Pass at an altitude of 11,578 feet on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National highway is of strategic importance as the highway remains closed during winters due to heavy snowfall, cutting off Ladakh region from Kashmir. The single-tube Zojila tunnel from Baltal, in the Ganderbal district of central Kashmir, to Minimarg, in Drass town of Kargil district of Ladakh, is 13 km long with an approach road of 18 km. "This project is a huge game changer by the government of India. The total length of the project from Sonamarg to Minimarg is 31 km. From Sonamarg to Baltal, it is 18 km, and then the main tunnel from Baltal to Minimarg wh

Updated On : 09 Apr 2023 | 5:38 PM IST

J&K avalanche: Army evacuates stranded workers from Zojila tunnel project

The Indian Army rescued and evacuated 172 workers stranded in an avalanche at the Zojila Tunnel construction site on Saturday.According to an Army statement, in a major avalanche near Sarbal Nilagrar, workers of the construction company got stuck.The rescue teams of the Army and Jammu & Kashmir Police swung into action and after hours of gruelling effort finally all 172 workers were brought to safety.This incident happened on January 12 in which three workers lost their lives, said Army.The Army pressed into effect avalanche rescue equipment and rescue dogs.A low-intensity avalanche struck the Sarbal area in the Ganderbal district of Jammu & Kashmir on Saturday."A low-intensity avalanche hit Sarbal area where the Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) workshop was being held," officials said.As reported by company officials everyone is safe. No loss of life or property is reported, they said, while adding that police and SDRF teams have been ...

Updated On : 15 Jan 2023 | 6:19 PM IST

BRO reopens strategic Zojila pass on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh road

The pass normally closes by end-November every year, with the onset of winter, when the temperatures dips to sub-zero degrees and opens only by mid April the next year

Updated On : 19 Mar 2022 | 4:50 PM IST

MEIL completes 5-km tunnelling work as part of Zojila project

Infrastructure major Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited (MEIL) on Sunday said it has completed 5-km-long tunnelling work as part of the 18-km-long all-weather Zojila Tunnel in a record time of 14 months. The company in a statement said the project of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), being executed by the MEIL, is envisaged to ensure connectivity between Srinagar and Ladakh throughout the year without any interruptions. The Zojilla Tunnel -- Nilgrar 1, 2 & Zojila main tunnel - is being expeditiously executed, despite unfavourable weather conditions like snowfall, and blizzard at a high altitude of 3,528 metres above mean sea level, MEIL said. The statement noted that Zojila project, Asia's longest bi-directional tunnel, is a challenging development project in India for strategic reasons too. It added that the current winter witnessed the highest-ever snowfall in the history of Jammu and Kashmir with temperatures dropping ..