Four groups in contest for Zojila Tunnel
16 June 2017India - Local media has reported that four teams are in the running for the Zojila Tunnel contract in Jammu & Kashmir, northern India. These are: a JV of Reliance Infrastructure and Dogus Construction; Larsen and Toubro; IL&FS Engineering and Construction; Jaiprakash Power Ventures
The tunnel will reportedly run for around 14km and cost around USD 1.5bn. Previously it has been hard to attract bids on the project. The project is remote and extremely exposed to the elements, being at an altitude of 3,500m above sea level.
The mountain pass connects Sonamarg in the Kashmir valley with Drass and is crucial for maintaining supplies to armed forces stationed all in the disputed region, as well as the civilian population of Ladakh. The pass remains snowbound for more than five months in a year.
