Construction work on the 14-km-long Zojila Tunnel, the longest two-directional tunnel in Asia and India’s longest, will begin by early summer this year.
For several years now the work could not take off on the tunnel, which will provide all-weather connectivity between Kashmir Valley and Ladakh. Currently, the Srinagar-Leh road remains closed for six months due to snow.
Minister for roads and buildings NaeemAkther told Greater Kashmir that all work-related formalities have been completed and the mobilisation of men and machinery will begin by early summer.
Sources said Prime Minister NarendraModi is likely to lay the foundation of the tunnel whose construction was approved in 2005 but got stuck in technicalities and tendering issues.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs headed by Modi had in January this year cleared the Rs 6,808.69-crore tunnel project that will cut travel time between Srinagar-Leh by three hours.
The construction is expected to be completed in seven years from the date of the start of the work.
An official said about 30% of the under progress work on the first phase of the tunnel—the 6.5-km Gagangeer-Sonamrag stretch—has been completed.