Zojila is a strategic pass that provides an important link between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh.
Zojila:
The strategic 434-km long Srinagar-Leh national highway was reopened for vehicular traffic on Saturday in a record time of 73 days from being closed in January this year after heavy snowfall, officials said.
A trial movement was successfully conducted, and the decision to open the road to civilian traffic would be taken after a joint inspection by the civil administration.
BRO Director General Lt Gen Rajeev Choudhary opened the highway for traffic at the Zojila Pass, located at an altitude of 11,650 feet, officials said.
The Joji La pass on the Srinagar-Leh highway has been reopened for the movement of defense vehicles.
It is a record that it is open again after 73 days. Earlier Ladakh used to be cut for 6 months, but last year we reduced it to 110 days and this time just 73 days: DG, BRO pic.twitter.com/9eptGZdVVh
— ANI (@ANI) March 19, 2022
Zojila is a strategic pass that provides a vital link between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh, and is the key to the operational preparedness of the armed forces. It is mostly closed for six months due to heavy snowfall. This year, it was cleared in record time, he said.
“This pass is mostly closed for six months. But last year, we decided to keep it closed for the shortest possible time. We had kept it closed for about 110 days last year and it had many benefits. This year We opened the road again in -73 days,” Lt Gen Choudhary told reporters in Zojila.
He said the highway was kept open till January 4 this year, after which it was closed for traffic after heavy snowfall.
He said, “It has now been reopened in record time. It is a great achievement and Project Beacon, which manages the highway at JK, and Project Vijayak, which manages it in Ladakh UT, have both made it has done.”
The DG of BRO said that the early reopening of the highway has many benefits from strategic and socio-economic point of view.
“From a strategic point of view, maintenance including ammunition, logistics or anything else for our troops stationed in Ladakh will now arrive on time. It will also speed up the transportation of fresh vegetables, medicines etc. to the people of Ladakh. Increase commerce, and people are very happy,” he said.
Lt Gen Choudhary said that a study has found that the government can save around Rs 7 crore per day by opening the road soon.
“We saved around Rs 400 crore by reopening the road at the earliest – money spent on air transport,” he said.
A defense spokesman said the snow clearance operation on the highway was launched on February 15 by BRO’s Project Beacon and Vijayak.
After sustained efforts, connectivity at the Zojila Pass was initially established on March 3, and after that, the road surface was improved for safe passage of vehicles, he said.