Engineer behind Zojila tunnel recounts challenges of minus 35°C, heavy snow
Sonamarg, Jun 9: As Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel project at Zojila prepares for a breakthrough today, the engineer overseeing the Rs 6,500-crore project said extreme temperatures of minus 35 degrees Celsius and over four months of heavy snowfall were the biggest hurdles in executing what he called a matter of “national pride”.
“It is an iconic project, a national pride. In Asia, it is the longest bi-directional single tube at this height – nearly 11,000 feet, about three and a half kilometres. That gives a special feature to this tunnel,” NHIDCL Road and Tunnel Projects Authority Engineer Yousef Eshaghpour said.
Speaking from the project site near Minimarg in Drass, one of the coldest inhabited places on earth, Eshaghpour said the harsh winter conditions have historically cut off the Srinagar-Ladakh route for months.
“In winter time, we have temperatures around minus 35. For more than four and a half months, we face lots of difficulty due to heavy snowfall. It closes the road. This tunnel will give all-weather connectivity, uplift the lifestyle of people in the area, and provide regular road connectivity to Ladakh from Kashmir,” he added.
The engineer said the completion of over 13 km of excavation work marks a crucial step towards year-round access to Ladakh, benefiting both local residents and strategic defence movements.
Notably, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari will witness the breakthrough blast at the project site near Minamarg today. (KNS)
