Says in coming years 2.5 lakh crore worth projects would be announced
Abrar A. Mattoo/ Touseef Wani
Sonmarg, 28 Sept : The union minister for Roads, transport, and highways, Nitin Gadkari, who is on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, visited almost four tunnels on Srinagar-Leh highway to take note of the construction works.
While expressing satisfaction over the speed of the construction works, the minister said that currently, six mega projects, worth one-lakh crore, including Zojilla and Z Morh tunnels, are being implemented in Jammu and Kashmir, and in the coming years, projects worth 1.5 lakh crore would also be implemented In the union territory.
During his visit, the union minister was accompanied by V.K. Singh, the minister of state for road, transport and Highways, and IGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar.
While speaking with media on West wing of Zojilla tunnel at Baltal Sonmarg, Mr. Gadkari said that though the deadline for the completion of the Zojila tunnel has been set in 2026, he has directed the authorities to complete the tunnel before parliamentary elections in 2024.
Similarly, the Z Morh tunnel is set to be opened for vehicular movement ahead of winter this year.
While the 6.5 Kms. long Z Morh tunnel will ensure all year connectivity of the rest of Kashmir valley with Sonmarg, the 13 Kms. long Zojila tunnel will provide Connectivity to Ladakh, Kargil, and Drass.
The estimated total cost of the Z Morh tunnel is Rs. 2300 crore.
Similarly, the Zojilla tunnel will be built at 11, 578 feet altitude, at the cost of Rs. 4600 crore.
The time travel from Srinagar-Kargil would be reduced by 1.5 hours, and the distance of 13 kilometres by the construction of the Zojilla tunnel.
Once the tunnel is constructed, the Zojilla tunnel would be the longest Bi-directional tunnel in Asia. The tunnel is being constructed by Meil, Megha engineering and infrastructure, limited, a Hyderabad based company. The overall durisdiction of the Srinagar-Leh highway is in the hands of NHIDCL (National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited).
The construction of Srinagar-Leh highway is going to coost 10’000 Crore rupees (Including the cost incurred on tunnels Z Morh, Zojilla, Nilgrar 1 and Nilgrar 2).
“I have directed the authorities, including private companies and NHIDCL to respect the unique culture and traditional way of life in Jammu and Kashmir. It should reflect in the developmental work,” the minister added.
He further said that the infrastructure works would help the economy of the union territory, and help create jobs. He said that during construction, he has given directions that the majority of the jobs/works are reserved for the local populace.
“I have even told them to train the local youth in skills needed to build mega projects like tunnel and etcetera so that they are capable of building infrastructure on their own,” the minister added further.
While quoting the former American President, John F. Kennedy, the minister said that the President used to say that, “American roads are not good, because America is rich, but because American roads are good and make the America rich.”
The minister said that he takes his mandate as a minister of roads, highways, and transport in the same spirit.
