Ganesh Kendale
NEW DELHI: The road transport ministry had sought time from PM Modi for opening the 6.4 km Z-Morh tunnel on Srinagar-Leh highway as it was ready for inauguration. However, Sunday’s terrorist attack on the camp office of the tunnel contractor has prompted government to raise security for the project.
The tunnel, which will ensure all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Sonamarg and further to Kargil, was scheduled to be opened next month.Following the attack, security agencies are now collecting details from highway-building entities to assess risk profile of projects in sensitive areas.
The attack — first on a major infra project in J&K — is likely to have adverse impact on other big construction works in the region.
“It’s a matter of concern for highway builders. We are committed to carry out infra projects, but government must provide adequate security to the men and machinery at these sites. Government should have a comprehensive security plan for all infra projects in J&K by deploying additional security force, conducting thorough risk assessments, and implementing contingency plans to safeguard workforce,” said a senior executive of National Highway Builders Federation.
Meanwhile, an executive involved in the under-construction Zojila tunnel project on the same route said there has been no change in the SOPs and work was continuing smoothly.
Once completed, Z-Morh and Zojila tunnels will ensure round-the-year travel from Srinagar to Leh and close to China border, which is crucial for the region’s economic development and for strategic reasons, including faster movement of defence forces and big artillery. Work in progress of Zojila tunnel is little over 50%, sources said.
The foundation stone for Z-Morh tunnel was laid in Oct 2012. The project has been delayed several times, including stalemate after IL&FS went bankrupt. In 2020, the remaining work was awarded to APCO Amarnathji Tunnelway to be built at a cost of Rs 2,379 crore in Jan 2020. The two-lane bi-directional tunnel with an escape has been designed to handle around 1,000 vehicles per hour. The tunnel passes through areas that are prone to snow avalanches, which make the road to Sonamarg impassable during most of the winter.
