Govt invites fresh bids for Z-Morh tunnel

The Union government has invited fresh bids for Z-Morh tunnel that will provide all-weather connectivity to Sonmarg tourist resort.

The contract had been allotted to Infrastructure Leasing& Financial Services (IL&FS). But it was cancelled after the companyreported financial stress.

   

The tunnel is being constructed near Gagangeer area ofSonamarg in Ganderbal district.

Official sources told Greater Kashmir that the NationalHighways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), a wholly ownedsubsidiary of the Union road ministry, has invited fresh bids for the6.5-km-long tunnel project at an estimated construction cost of Rs 2378 cr. Asenior official of NHIDCL told Greater Kashmir that the bid due date is 1August 2019.

“The government has entrusted to the authority thedevelopment, maintenance and management of Z-Morh tunnel project. The authorityhas resolved to augment construction, operation and maintenance of Z-Morhtunnel including approaches on Srinagar-Sonamarg section on design, build,finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) annuity basis and has decided to carryout the bidding process for selection of a private entity as the bidder to whomthe project may be awarded,” reads the bid issued by the NHIDCL.

The work on the tunnel commenced in May 2015 and thecompletion period for the project was five years. The project is unlikely to becompleted by its May 2020 deadline.

The Srinagar Sonamarg Tunnelway, of which the Z-Morh is apart, was a joint venture project between IL&FS (ITNL) and SomaInfrastructure. It is learnt that 40% of work has been completed so far.

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