Srinagar
Governor NN Vohra on Saturday reviewed the pace of work on the vital Z Morh and Zojila Tunnel projects and certain major road projects which are being executed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited .

In his presentation, Nagendra Nath Sinha, Managing Director, NHIDCL, said under the Z Morh Tunnel project, 42 per cent of physical progress had been achieved in the case of excavation works and of the targeted 13,000 m of excavation, 5,489 m had been completed and a ventilation tunnel of 596 metres had also been completed.

The work on the Z Morh Tunnel, with a total length of 6.5 km along with its approaches, is being constructed between the villages of Rezan and Shetkari on the Srinagar-Leh highway, which is planned to be completed in April 2020.

On the progress of Zojila Tunnel to provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh, the meeting was informed that it would reduce the travel time from three hours to 15 minutes. Work on the tunnel, started in May 2018, is expected to be completed in May 2025.

The Governor discussed in detail the proposed ventilation and other facilities in both these tunnels and directed Piyush Singla, Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, to immediately finalise the location for setting up medical facilities and positioning of specialists, especially for coronary care and high-altitude ailments. He directed the Chief Engineer, power development department, to urgently prepare a detailed project report for providing uninterrupted 3X10 MVA power supply for work in both the tunnels.

On the construction of an approach road to the western portal of Zojila Tunnel, Sinha said a detailed study was being conducted along with the Snow and Avalanches Study Establishment for the construction of the 20-km stretch which had approximately 30 avalanche-prone sites.