Zojila contract

For the past 15 years there have been dozens of news items in national and local newspapers about the construction of Zojila tunnel. Most of the efforts by the central government to make Srinagar-Leh highway all weather roads have failed so far. When a contracting company started the work a few years back they left the Zojila contract after one year of work citing cost escalation and difficulties of high terrain.

When the government tried to negotiate with the same company, they had asked for rupees 10 thousand crores as the completion for the project. The government asked this company to complete the project in the earlier contract money of Rs 6 thousand crores.

Much to the surprise of media circles, a company namely Mega Engineering & Infrastructure limited its quoted rate of Rs 4509.50 crore which claimed time of completion in six years. How can this private construction company complete the work at such a low price as the other private companies, decided to move out even after spending their money for one year on this project.

Will the Zojila tunnel finally be the completed project or will it again be in the center of controversy after some time as this latest company has given the money line much less then asked by the previous contracting company.

Union Minister Natin Gadkari recently by a virtual blast from New Delhi started the work on Zojila tunnel and claimed that it would be completed within the timeline and also expressed hope that this tunnel would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi before the next general elections.