For the construction of a Zojila tunnel at an altitude of 3,528 meters, directly connecting Srinagar with Leh-Ladakh, Larsen & Toubro, Reliance Infrastructure, ILFS, and Jaiprakash Ventures are currently vying with one another to bag the ambitious project entailing an investment of Rs.10,000-crore, said sources. The tunnel will provide year-long connectivity between Srinagar and Leh, as the national highway that connects these two places remains shut to six months due to heavy snowfall in the region. The four companies have submitted their techno-commercial bids for the project and the financial bid is expected to be opened by June-end 2017, after which the project would be awarded to the winning bidder. As a matter of fact, there is currently no appetite for PPP projects among private sector developers and the fact that it is a complicated project with high risks, makes it tougher. But the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) route will help expedite the mega project. Transport Minister is keen to award the project soon and start work by August this year.
