PM sets to kick-start 14.2 km long Zojila tunnel

Ensuring quicker mobility of man and machine in the border belt of Ladakh region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is all set to lay the foundation stone of the 14.2 km Zojila tunnel this week itself. The project will provide all-weather connectivity from Baltal in Kashmir to Minamarg near Gumri in Ladakh region. The contract for the project has already been awarded to IL & FS, which has local area expertise in infrastructure development in the tough terrain. Located at a height of above 11,000 feet, Zojila Pass is known as the gateway to Ladkah region and connects Kargil and Leh with Srinagar. The strategically-located tunnel will not just be a big asset for the army but will also be beneficial for the locals, who often have to traverse tough terrain. It is in fact a trans-Himalayan region and to reach there one needs to cross the formidable Zojila Pass in Jammu and Kashmir or Rohtang Pass in the neighboring Himachal Pradesh, said official sources.