Why Zojila tunnel breakthrough is a boost for military mobility, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• The Zojila tunnel has achieved a significant breakthrough with the completion of its excavation phase.
• It is the world's longest high-altitude bi-directional road tunnel, connecting Kashmir valley and Ladakh.
• The 13-km tunnel, situated at an altitude of 11,758 feet, is targeted for completion by February 2028.
• This project will provide all-weather connectivity to Ladakh, bypassing the treacherous Zojila Pass.
• The tunnel significantly enhances military mobility and reduces the defense forces' reliance on airlifts in the strategic Himalayan region.

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Detailed Insights:

• The Zojila tunnel forms the centerpiece of the larger 30,894-km Zojila project, aimed at ensuring year-round access to Ladakh.
• It will reduce the distance from Sonamarg to Drass by 27 km and cut travel time by more than two hours.
• All-weather connectivity is crucial for defense forces, boosting maneuverability in case of hostilities on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) or Line of Control (LoC).
• The tunnel offers greater protection from enemy surveillance and artillery fire, vulnerabilities evident during the 1999 Kargil War.
• The Z-Morh tunnel, another key project on the Srinagar-Leh highway, was opened in January last year, complementing the Zojila project.
• Remaining works include widening vertical shafts, completing the inner concrete lining, and installing drainage, ventilation, and fire-fighting systems.

Key Concepts Involved:

• All-weather connectivity: Ensuring year-round access and transport despite extreme weather conditions and snowfall.
• Line of Actual Control (LAC): The demarcation line separating Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory.
• Line of Control (LoC): A military control line between the Indian and Pakistani parts of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Strategic Infrastructure: Projects vital for national security, economic development, and defense capabilities of a nation.