Q. Consider the following statement about Zoji La Tunnel:
1. It is a single-tube road tunnel under Zoji La pass in the Himalayas
2. The tunnel will connect Baltal in Kashmir with Minamarg in Ladakh.
Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?
Answer: D
Notes:
About the Zoji La Tunnel
- Zoji La Tunnel is a single-tube road tunnel under Zoji La pass in the Himalayas
- The tunnel will connect Baltal in Kashmir with Minamarg in Ladakh. This will reduce travel time by two-and-a-half hours.
- Once completed, Zojila tunnel will be India’s longest road tunnel and Asia’s longest bidirectional tunnel.
Strategic significance of the Zoji La Tunnel
The need for Zoji La tunnel was first felt during the 1999 Kargil war, and the recent incursions by China made it an urgent necessity. The tunnel will provide logistics flexibility and operational mobility to the Army.
About the Zoji La Pass
- Zoji La is a high mountain pass located in the Kargil district of Ladakh. Zoji la is also known as the “Mountain Pass of Blizzards”.
- The pass links Leh and Srinagar and provides an important link between the Union Territories of Ladakh and Kashmir.
- Zojila pass remains closed during winters due to heavy snowfall, cutting off the Ladakh region from Kashmir.
Source: Infrastructure and Energy
