Zojila Tunnel

In Context

• The government is pushing to complete the massive Zojila tunnel before Republic Day, 2024.

About 

• The Zojila tunnel will be India’s longest road tunnel and Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel. 
• The first part involves the development and expansion of the 18.475-km highway between Z-Morh to Zojila. 
  • A 3-km stretch will be expanded; the rest will be newly developed.
•  The highway will have 2 twin-tube tunnels, 5 bridges, and 2 snow galleries.

                                 Image Courtesy: IE

• The second part is building the 14.15-km Zojila tunnel itself — 9.5 m wide, 7.57 m high, 2 lanes, in the shape of a horseshoe.

Benefits 

• The Zojila tunnel will allow travel between Srinagar and Ladakh throughout the year. 
• It will provide all-weather connectivity with Srinagar allowing it to remain open to tourists all year round. 
• The construction of the Zojila Tunnel may bring about all-around economic and socio-cultural integration of these regions which remains cut off from the rest of the country during winters due to heavy snowfall for about six months.

Source:TH