by Bilal Fatima
SRINAGAR: Top officials implementing the Zoji La tunnel said the longest road tunnel in Asia will be ready by late 2024. It has 2026 as the deadline.
The 13.145 kms tunnel is being implemented by BRO. Right now, 1100 workers are working within the tunnel at one of the coldest spots in Kashmir. “In summer, we have more than 2500 workers and 70 per cent of them are local,” one official said.
Once ready, the tunnel will make Ladakh Srinagar travel around the clock affair. It is currently operational for less than two third of the year.
So far, excavations have been completed for five kilometres and the work is 24 x 7 affair. “During freezing cold, we do not work in open but in tunnel, the temperature is normal,” the official said.
