The strategically important all-weather Zojila Tunnel which will provide connectivity between the Ladakh region and the rest of the country, is nearly at the halfway mark, as the excavation for seven-km tunnel length has been completed.
An official of Mega Engineering and Industries Limited (MEIL) said, the executing agency”The works have been carried out on a war footing. We have completed 40-45 per cent of road works and tunnel works so far. The tunnel excavation works of 7,002 metres have been completed as of now,”.
Once completed, the Zojila tunnel project which consists of tunnels, roads, shafts, and bridges will have Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel and it is one of the most challenging and unique infrastructure projects which will provide as it decreases the travel time between the two regions.
The Zojila Project is being executed with the engineering expertise of the advanced New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM).
“MEIL has carried the works in sub-zero temperatures, especially at minus 40 degrees, in high altitude and hilly and hard rocky terrain. It is hard to execute all drilling and civil works in that hilly terrains which contain hard rock and heavy seepage,” the official added.
MEIL’s project in charge Harpal Singh said, “We are doing the project with dedication, determination, and hard work” and once the Zojila project is completed, it will have a total of 18-km-long tunnels and 17-km-long road, three vertical shafts, four bridges, and other associated structures.
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