A 65-yr-old dream comes true Tunnel to Ladakh

A 65-yr-old dream comes true

Tunnel to Ladakh

A 65-year old dream is all set to become a reality as work begins on one of the two tunnels that will ensure road connectivity to the cold desert of Ladakh throughout the year. The foundation stone of 6.5 kilometer Z-Mode (Gagangir)-Sonamarg tunnel was laid on Thursday amid great fanfare with Congress general Rahul Gandhi sharing stage with J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah here. The tunnel will make Sonamarg health resort accessible from Srinagar throughout the year. It is first of the two tunnels that are to be drilled through the most treacherous and inhospitable mountain passes to ensure road connectivity to Ladakh. Work on the 13 kilometer long second tunnel, which is being drilled through Zojila pass situated at an altitude of 3,500 meters to connect Baltal with Minimarg, is expected to start next year. The Rs2,716 crore two-lane tunnel between Sonamarg and Z-Morh with parallel escape tunnel will be completed by August 2018. The carriageway width for main tunnel and escape tunnel will be eight and 3.5 meters respectively.