Work on Zojila to start soon

NEW DELHI, Jan 1:
Government will soon begin the work on Rs 10,000-crore Zojila pass tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir to provide all-weather connectivity to the Leh-Ladakh region.
Zojila pass, which is situated at an altitude of 11,578-ft on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway, remains closed during winters (December to April) due to heavy snowfall and avalanches, cutting Leh-Ladakh region from Kashmir.
“The Government has received a bid for the Zojila pass tunnel. Though it is a single bid, but it is at a very reasonable cost. The project will immensely benefit the people of Leh-Ladakh region who remain cut off from the rest of the world during winters,” Vijay Chhibber who retired yesterday as Road Transport and Highways Secretary said.
According to sources, IRB Infrastructure has bid for the project and it is scheduled to be completed in nine years.
The tunnel project is part of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Rs 80,000-crore development package for Jammu and Kashmir, which he had announced in November. (PTI)