Last year, despite heavy snow, work was not stopped at the strategic Zojila tunnel that would provide access to Ladakh throughout the year once completed. But not this winter. Two deadly snow avalanches not only stopped the work but around 1000 workers were sent out of the area for safety reasons.
The avalanches have killed two workers of the construction company Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd. (MEIL) which has been awarded the construction of the Zojila tunnel.
The contract to the MEIL was awarded on October 1, 2020 and the work on Zojila Tunnel connecting Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh commenced in April 2021.
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“Since the work was started the company achieved excellent results throughout 2021 and 2022. Tunneling works were progressing well till January 10, 2023. But heavy snowfall disrupted the works on January 10 and keeping in view the safety of the crew all works were suspended,” says the Project Manager Harpal Singh.
Giving details of snow avalanches in the area, he said a massive snow avalanche set off from Serbal village on January 12 killed two workers who were outside the camp for unknown reasons. Subsequently, he said, the company advised all workmen to leave the project areas but 172 workers are staying back.
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“900 workmen left the project on January 13,” he added.
Singh told Outlook that another deadly snow avalanche hit on January 14 at 5:30 pm and transported about 50000 m3 of snow.
“All 172 workmen had decided to stay in the camp which is 100m away from NILGRAR tunnel and were very safe,” he added.
“Next morning all 172 workers evacuated safely and were sent to their homes,” he said. “Entire project work is now under suspension from Sonamarg to Baltal,” he added. However, the work on the project from the Ladakh side hasn’t stopped as the area is not proved slide prone so far.
The Zojila tunnel will be a two-lane highway (9.5 meters wide and 7.57 meters high) in the shape of a horseshoe. The New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), an advanced technology, is being used in these works.
The government of India conceived the idea of the Zojila tunnel in 2005 to have all-weather connectivity to Ladakh as the UPA government felt all-weather connectivity to Ladakh was a strategic necessity. The government started exploring the possibility of the tunnel and handed over the project to the BRO in 2013.
In 2016 the NDA government raised funds and floated bids but one player came forward under BOOT mode. The concerned agency, however, failed to carry on the work and the project stopped for a few months. Then in 2020 the government of India came up with a new design and the work was allotted under EPC mode where a contractor has to design, construct and maintain the tunnel and funds would be provided by the government.
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Last year with the onset of the autumn and early snow all hotels shut earlier in Sonmarg. But Singh didn’t stop the work. But this year snow avalanches have forced the company to stop the work. The deadline to complete the project is 2026 but Singh says it will be completed early.
