Highway News
New 12-Km Tunnel In Arunachal To Hold A World Record
Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh virtually carried out the final breakthrough blast of the Sela Tunnel in Arunachal. The 12 km long tunnel will enhance military capabilities to combat the threat of China’s Western Theatre Command. Located between the Tawang and West Kameng districts of Arunachal Pradesh, the Sela Pass, from a strategic point of view is crucial.
The tunnel will be the longest bi-lane road tunnel in the world at an altitude above 13,000 ft upon completion. Being constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the latest New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) is being used and is considerably below the snow line, which makes it accessible during all weather.
It’s expected to be completed by June-August 2022.
J&K: Infrastructure Projects Worth ₹ 1.5 Lakh Cr Undertaken
The Centre is working on projects worth ₹ 1 lakh crore and is planning to invest another ₹ 1.50 lakh crore in next two years in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We have had extensive meetings with businesses and locals and creating roads and tunnels are on our top priority. Currently projects worth ₹ 1 lakh crore is one of various tunnels and highway projects and we will be investing about ₹ 1.5 lakh crore to create tunnels of 30 km in J&k and another 20 km in Leh and Laddakh in next two years. This will be critical for the socio- economic turnover of the state,” Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road, Transport and Highways, issued a statement.
About the progress of Zojila tunnel and Z-Morh tunnel projects, Gadkari said, “I am satisfied with the speed of the construction and have told the authorities to complete the construction of the approaching tunnels before May 2024, so that we can show that we have achieved here.” He has asked the authorities to complete the work before 2024 polls, almost a year ahead of deadline.
Zojila tunnel project is worth ₹ 4,600 crore and is a strategic project, providing all weather connectivity to the Union Territory of Ladakh. Z-Morh tunnel would connect Srinagar to Sonamarg during winter months, which are generally cut off from Kashmir for 6 months. The tunnel project is being developed at a cost of ₹ 2,300 crore.