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Context

• Indian Army can use Zojila tunnel in September 2024, two years ahead of deadline- Authorities.

About

• Zoji La Tunnel is a 14.2 km long road tunnel under Zoji La pass in NH-1 in the Himalayas.
• The tunnel will connect Srinagar and Leh through Dras and Kargil.
• The passage will begin at Sonmarg in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and terminate at Minamarg, in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
• Zojila tunnel will be India’s longest road tunnel, and Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel.
• An approach road will be added to the head of the tunnel, connecting it with the end of the Z-Morh tunnel, which leads to Kargil.

Importance

• The tunnel, at a height of more than 11,500 feet, will provide all-weather, perennial connectivity between Srinagar (Kashmir) and Ladakh.
• The travel time on Zojila Pass is about three hours, but the journey through the tunnel can be completed within just 15 minutes.
• The distance from Baltal to Minamarg will come down to 13 km from the present 40 km.
• The project is expected to lead to integrated development of both Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Presently, the Zojila Pass that connects Kashmir’s capital city Srinagar to Ladakh is motorable only for six months only as the accumulation of snow makes it inaccessible during winters. It creates inconveniences for civilians in Ladakh who have to stockpile the ration before winter sets in.

• The tunnel, which is covered from the top, will provide a passage safe from avalanches in the winter months.
• The construction of Zozila Tunnel shall bring about all round economic and socio-cultural integration of these regions which remains cut-off from rest of the country during winters due to heavy snowfall for about six months.
• The project is expected to generate employment opportunities for locals.
• Better transportation networks will boost the tourism sector in the region.

Strategic significance

• Need for the Zojila tunnel was first felt during the 1999 Kargil war.
• And now authorities are on an overdrive to build a strategic Zojila tunnel in Kashmir to reduce travel time to Ladakh where China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is aggressively pushing its territorial claims along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• It will ensure safer travel for defence and military vehicles, which are active in the border territory.
• 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.

Read: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/drass

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/j-k/indian-army-can-use-zojila-in-september-2024-two-years-ahead-of-deadline-381555

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