Says J&K to have 19 tunnels at Rs 25000 Cr
Zojila (Ganderbal): Union Minister for Roads, Highways and Transport, Nitin Gadkari Monday said asked Jammu and Kashmir administration to provide employment to the local youth.
Talking to reporters at Zojila, Gadkari, who is leading the 13-member Parliamentary Panel to Kashmir, said that the tourism sector creates employment and the Zojila site is apt for promoting tourism.
“During the Kargil war, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had visualized that this area should have better connectivity and today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendera Modi, we are fulfilling Vajpayee’s dream,” he said, adding that “we have road to Baltal and to the cave shrine of Amarnath Baba. During the yatra we have a huge rush of pilgrims and tourists. I urge the LG to plan resorts and adventure sports infrastructure in this area on the lines of Switzerland to promote tourism with the active support and employment to locals of the area.”
He said the area will help promote socio-economic transformation and provide better livelihood opportunities to locals of the area.
He said that at the cost of Rs 25000 Crore, 19 tunnels will be constructed in J&K. “With the construction of these tunnels, we will be able to cover long distances within shortest possible time,” Gadkari said.
“In Zojila project, there will be a 7.57 metre high horseshoe-shaped single-tube, 2-lane tunnel, which will pass under the Zojila Pass in the Himalayas between Ganderbal in Kashmir and Drass town in Kargil district of Ladakh,” the Union Minister said. He said that the project includes a Smart Tunnel (SCADA) system, which has been constructed using the New Austrian Tunneling Method.