IL&FS Wins J&K’s Zojila Highway Tunnel Project. Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) has won the tender for the 14.1 km long state-of-the-art Zojila Highway tunnel, a senior officer with the National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). IL&FS emerged as the lowest bidder for Rs 4,899 crore.

The finalisation of tender for the tunnel was possible in its fifth attempt after the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways and Shipping failed to get more than one bidder in the previous attempts. The other construction giants who participated in the Rs 8,000 crore tender were Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Jaiprakash Ventures and Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra).

The NHIDCL, a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and Ministry of Shipping, was given the task of executing the tendering process for the Zojila Highway tunnel.

Zojila pass is situated at an altitude of 11,578-ft on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway which remains closed during winters (December to April) due to heavy snowfall and avalanches cutting off Leh-Ladakh region from Kashmir.

The construction cost for Zojila Highway tunnel would be around Rs 5,900 crore and the remaining amount would be used for other purposes, such as land acquisition. NHIDCL had said that an advance fee of 15 per cent will be given to the firm that wins the contract.

The IL&FS is also the maker of the 10.89-km-long Chenani-Nashri tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway. Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April this year, the tunnel reduces the 41-km distance between Chenani in Udhampur district and Nashri in Ramban to 10.89 km and can be covered in 10 minutes, instead of the two-and-half hours needed currently. The Jammu- Srinagar Highway is considered to be the lifeline of the state.

Similarly, the Zojila pass, located at a height of 12,000 feet, is on National Highway 1 between Srinagar and Leh in the western section of the Himalayan mountain ranges.

The two-way tunnel, touted as South Asia’s longest when ready, will reduce travel time from three hours to a mere 15 minutes. The tunnel would have some unique features like pedestrian safety passages every 250 metres, and vehicular safety passage at every 750 metres.

The road inside the tunnel will also have other features like lay-bys — an area at the side where vehicles may pull off and stop — and emergency telephone and communication systems at emergency exits at intervals of 125 metres.

The tunnel, which will provide a new lifeline to the locals in terms of road connectivity, will also have interior and external lighting, CCTV cameras, emergency guidance lamps and proper vehicle guidance systems. It will also be equipped to tackle fire incidents.

The Zojila pass remains snow-bound for most part of the year, rendering road connectivity with Ladakh impossible for seven to eight months. The pass is not just vital for the locals but is strategically crucial for the security of India’s northern frontier.

here is company details.

 

NOTE :You need to login first to access this feature.