Zojila tunnel work apace, deadline advanced to 2024

Officials are confident about the opening of the Zojila tunnel for defence forces by 2024 and emergency services, two years ahead of the 2026 deadline.

About Zojila Tunnel:

• The Zojila tunnel will be India’s longest road tunnel and Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel. 
• The first part involves the development and expansion of the 475-km highway between Z-Morh to Zojila. 
• A 3-km stretch will be expanded; the rest will be newly developed.
• The highway will have 2 twin-tube tunnels, 5 bridges, and 2 snow galleries.
• To be built at a cost of Rs 2,600 crore, the horseshoe-shaped Zojila tunnel will be India’s longest street burrow and the highest tunnel at 3,485 metre. 
• The need for the Zojila tunnel was first felt during the 1999 Kargil war and the recent incursions by China made it an urgent necessity.
• The tunnel will provide logistics flexibility and operational mobility to the Indian Army as it will reduce the travel time on Zojila Pass from 3.5 hours to 15 minutes