Kargil residents demand construction of Zojila Pass tunnel

Srinagar, July 17 (ANI): Residents of Kargil here demanded the construction of a tunnel at the strategically located Zojila Pass to stay connected to Leh round the year.

Kargil, which is connected to the Kashmir Valley through the Srinagar-Drass Road experiences heavy snowfall from November to March and remains closed for six months.

"During winters, we are cut off from the rest of the India for six months. The last option left for the people of Kargil or you can say for the people of Ladakh and the army that the Zojila tunnel should be constructed as soon as possible. With the construction of this tunnel, the lifestyle of people living in this area will be improved," claimed Inayat Ali, a resident.

A tunnel at Z Morh and Zoji La, the 434-kilometres Srinagar-Leh national highway, would keep the road open to vehicular traffic between Kashmir and Ladakh regions throughout the year.

"For connecting Kargil to rest of the India for the whole year, Prime Minister came here, he gave a package of 24 billion rupees.

When he went to Leh, he declared that the Zojila tunnel would be constructed," said G M Saroori, Roads and Bridges Minister of Jammu and Kashmir state. (ANI)