After the inauguration of the much-awaited Z-Morh tunnel connecting Ladakh with Srinagar, Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd. (MEIL) has achieved a significant milestone in the construction of the Zojila strategic tunnel.
As per the details available, MEIL has completed 80 per cent of the excavation work out of the total 13-kilometre proposed length.
The Zojila tunnel, located amidst mountainous terrain on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway, is set to become one of the longest and most crucial for its strategic importance in the region.
On Monday, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road and Transport, said that “33 tunnels are coming up in J&K, with five completed and nine under construction.”
Officials said that the excavation is a major step towards completing the Zojila Tunnel. “MEIL’s success in overcoming the challenging terrain is a big achievement,” they added.
“We are proud to have reached this significant milestone. The Zojila Tunnel project will not only enhance connectivity but also contribute to the development and security of the region,” a senior official from Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd. told reporters here.
Additionally, MEIL is constructing the Zojila tunnel using the latest Austrian tunnelling method,’ they said.
On completion, the tunnel will significantly reduce the travel time between Srinagar and Ladakh
from 4 hours to 45 minutes.
Furthermore, the tunnel will also boost the financial and cultural development of Srinagar and Ladakh throughout the year.
In case of potential military confrontations with China, it will provide faster access for the mobilisation of troops and equipment movement to Ladakh, where Indian armed forces have been in a standoff with the Chinese PLA since 2020.
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