Zoji-la Tunnel
Zoji La Tunnel is an under-construction Himalayan tunnel in India under the Zoji La pass the between Sonamarg in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir and Dras in Kargil district of Ladakh. It is 9.5 m wide, 7.57 m high and 14.2 km long, horseshoe-shaped single-tube, 2 lane road tunnel at the height of around 12,000 feet above sea level. Together with the adjacent Z-Morh Tunnel, this geostrategically important tunnel on the NH1 Srinagar-Leh Highway will provide year around weather-proof connectivity to Ladakh and Baltal, reduce the earlier 1-1.5 hours travel time to just 15 minutes drive, boost the tourism and economy, and enhance the logistics of the Indian Armed Forces. It is one of the 31 road tunnels being constructed at a combined cost of INR1400 billion. Upon completion it will become the longest tunnel in Asia.
History
In 2013, after Cabinet approved the Zoji-La and Z-Morh road tunnel projects, bid were invited in 2017, and IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd was awarded the contract with a period of 7 years to construct tunnel.
In May 2018, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, laid the foundation stone and construction work starts.
In 2019, after the earlier contractor IL&FS went bankrupt, fresh bids were invited, and new construction contract was awarded to the MEIL in 2020.
Benefits
Shorter travel time: Once the tunnel is completed, travel between Srinagar and Ladakh throughout the year will become possible. The travel time currently between Sonamarg and Meenamarg is four hours, while it will drastically come down to just 40 minutes after this Asia’s longest bidirectional tunnel is completed. All-weather connectivity: The tunnel along with 6.5 km long Z-Morh Tunnel, will ensure year-round road connectivity between Srinagar and Kargil which currently remains closed for about seven months due to heavy snowfall on the Zoji La pass which is situated at an altitude of ~12,000 feet on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh highway. Zoji La is 15 km from Sonamarg and provides a vital link with Drass and Kargil in Ladakh but remains closed for 6–7 months during winter due to heavy snow fall & snow avalanches.Geostrategic importance for the national security: This tunnel was a strategic requirement of the army and the Ladakhi people, for the pass is close to the Line of Control and vulnerable to hostile actions. Defence forces face tremendous logistical difficulties even in ensuring sufficient supplies to isolated border posts for the winter months; more generally, Zoji La is the single most strategic pass for supplying the entire Kargil sector. The tunnel will help keep the highway open throughout entire year.
Features
Two-lane bi-directional single tube tunnels: The project entails 14.150 km-long two-lane bi-directional single tube tunnel with a parallel 14.2 km-long egress tunnel. The western portal is at Baltal at about 3,000 m elevation, about 15 km east of Sonmarg. The eastern portal after Zoji La is at Meenamarg towards the Dras/Kargil end. The length of the tunnel does not include the lengths of the approach roads to both ends of the tunnel from the existing highway.Smart and safer tunnel: Planned as a smart tunnel, it will have the latest safety features such as a fully transverse ventilation system, an uninterrupted power supply, emergency lighting, CCTV monitoring, variable message signs, traffic logging equipment and a tunnel radio system. The safety features will include emergency telephones and fire-fighting cabinets every 125 metres, pedestrian cross-passages every 250 metres and motorable cross-passages and lay-bys every 750 metres.Constructed in EPC mode: The tunnel will be built under EPC mode wherein the Government of India will provide the money and the executing agency will do the construction and will later hand over the project to the Government of India.Revised total cost: is ₹ 8,308 crore including the 5% annual inflation and 4 years maintenance and operation cost.
2025 March: According to the MoRTH Minister Nitin Gadkari's update to the parliament, 64% work for Zoji-la Tunnel has been completed with Rs. 3934.42 crore spent out of total budgeted cost of Rs. 6809 crore, revised target completion date is February 2028. Z-Morh Tunnel is already operational,2025 October: 75% complete according to update by MoRTH Minister Nitin Gadkari.