Aim to complete three years of work in 2021, so 150 engineers working day and night | Aim to complete three years of work in 2021, so 150 engineers working day and night

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To meet the target of three years in a year, 8 sites are being excavated simultaneously. (Zojila Pass, Kashmir Valley)

Altitude of 11,578 feet and minus 20 degrees. It has a gathering of 150 engineers and machines like boomer, drill jumbo. All this exercise is to cut the mountains in the Kashmir valley and lay a network of tunnels so that people can get smooth movement from Srinagar to Ladakh in every season. Also, the army and military alike could reach the border areas rapidly.

These projects are showing tremendous momentum amid the ongoing tensions with China. This can be gauged from the fact that more than 70 officers are keeping an eye on the progress of the 6.5 km long Z-turn tunnel in Sonamarg. To meet the target of three years in a year, 8 sites are being excavated simultaneously.

Working 24 hours in two shifts. About 70% work has been completed. The tunnel will connect Sonamarg to Gagangir bypassing the avalanche areas of the Srinagar-Leh National Highway. This two-way tunnel, being constructed at a cost of Rs 2378 crore, will keep the resort of Sonamarg open throughout the year. The project started in May 2015, but the work stalled in 2018 due to the company’s financial crisis. In 2019, APCO Infratech received this project and started work in July 2020.

A bridge and approach road will also connect this tunnel to Asia’s longest (14.5 km) Zojila tunnel under construction. All these will ensure year-round connectivity to Ladakh. Zojila Tunnel will connect Srinagar, Dras, Kargil and Leh. The Srinagar-Leh highway on the Zojila Pass section will be reduced by 20 km. Vehicles on this 20 km route escalate by creeping avalanche danger. The road remains closed for six months in winter. After this, the distance of three and a half hours will be completed in 15 minutes. A 2.5 km long tunnel in the first part of this tunnel is to be built this year. The entire tunnel is to be completed in 2024.

DGM Prashant of the MEIL company, which is building the tunnel, says that within two months of getting the tender, we have started work from both Baltal and Minimarg. To save time, we are looking for a third site for excavation with the help of satellite. However, due to heavy snowfall, work on the part of Minimarg has been stopped. Bulldozer operators trying to start a machine at 11 am tell that we have been trying to start this bulldozer for 3 hours. But this winter is not operational.

The tunnel is being constructed from the New Austrian Tunneling Method. The stones are made loose by exploding in it. It is then taken out and carried forward. When the work is at full peak, then on an average, 100 meters will be moved daily.