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New Zoji La Tunnel Will Soon Lead to All-Weather Leh Connectivity

The Indian Government has approved a new tunnel at Zoji La to ensure all-weather connectivity between crucial regions like Leh, Kargil and Srinagar.

Published: January 4, 2018 8:58 AM IST

By Travel Staff

Leh

While Leh Ladakh is famous as one of the most beautiful terrains of India, it is also considered one of the most difficult ones to get to. With the two main highways leading to Leh being snowed under for several months of the year, Leh is visited by tourists only during the peak season months from mid-May to early-October. But now, thanks to an announcement by the Indian government, Leh may soon become an all-weather destination. On Wednesday, the government approved a strategic road transport project aimed at boosting all-weather connectivity between key sectors Jammu and Kashmir – especially Srinagar, Kargil and Leh. The ulterior motive here is to better secure our borders in Jammu and Kashmir. One of the main aspects of the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Modi was approval of the construction, operation and maintenance of the two-lane, bi-directional Zoji La tunnel in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) mode.

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According to a CCEA statement, “The main objective of the project is to provide all-weather connectivity to the strategically important Leh region in Jammu and Kashmir which at the moment is limited to at best six months because of snow on the passes and threat of avalanches.” While the aim is to ensure better access to Indian security forces to check infiltration and stock up on crucial supplies and ammunition, the Zoji La tunnel is sure to also help travelers and locals access spectacular regions of the state all year round. ALSO SEE Unexplored places to visit in Ladakh for your summer vacation

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Leh is currently connected to mainland India by two main roads – first through the Zoji La pass from Srinagar and second through the Rohtang Pass from Manali. Both of these highways are extremely popular biking and driving routes for enthusiasts during the summer months. However, they only provide fragile connectivity and are blocked during the harsh winter months. The new Zoji La tunnel is likely to boost tourism in the region and also provide better means to improve the local economy.

According to CCEA, this project will be built over seven years and is expected to cost around Rs 6,808.69 crore. This includes land acquisition, construction and other crucial expenditures as well as maintenance and operational costs of the tunnel for four years.

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