The Zojila tunnel with a parallel escape tunnel has been approved by the  The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The approval has been given for the construction, operation and maintenance for the 2-lane bi-directional Zojila Tunnel with Parallel Escape (Egress) Tunnel (excluding approaches) on the Srinagar-Leh section connecting NH-1A at Km 95.00 and at Km 118.00 in Jammu & Kashmir using an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) method. The construction of this tunnel will provide all weather connectivity between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh and will bring about all round economic and socio-cultural integration of these regions. The project has strategic and socio-economic importance and shall be an instrument for the development of the economically disadvantaged districts in Jammu & Kashmir.

The construction period of the project is seven years from the day ground is broken. The civil construction cost of the project will be Rs 4899.42 crore.  The total capital cost of the project is Rs 6808.69 crore.  This includes the cost towards Land Acquisition, Resettlement & Rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities as well as Maintenance and Operation cost of the tunnel for four years.  Click in/67 for tunnelbuilder archive. Visit http://pib.nic.in. 02/18.