Drass, Jul 26: Calling it the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hope for lakhs of Ladakhis, Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta on Saturday said the Zoji-La Tunnel will help in boosting tourism by connecting the region with the rest of the country.
Noting that the construction work on the tunnel is going on in mission mode, the LG said that the tunnel, with immense strategic importance, will lead to all-around economic and socio-cultural integration of J&K and Ladakh.
He said this while inspecting the Eastern Portal of the Zoji-La Tunnel during his visit to Drass.
The Lieutenant Governor entered the tunnel along with the engineer to assess the progress of ongoing work.
The project engineers briefed the LG Kavinder on the current status of ongoing work, informing that only 1.7 km of excavation work is remaining and the tunnel is expected to be completed by 2028.
The Lt Governor also interacted with the workers and boosted their morale, appreciating their hard work and perseverance in completing the project work. He commended the dedication of the personnel engaged in the Zoji-La Tunnel project work, acknowledging their efforts under challenging conditions.
Later, interacting with Site Engineers, he lauded them for their hard work and asked them to continue working with the same zeal.
The Lt Governor said that the Zoji La Tunnel is the dream of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, as the ongoing construction work of this tunnel once completed would help in boosting the tourism by connecting the region with the rest of the country.
He also said that the tunnel, with immense strategic importance, will lead to all-around economic and socio-cultural integration of J&K and Ladakh. He stated that the completion of the Zoji-La Tunnel will open a new chapter of development for the region and will significantly boost tourism in Ladakh.
Later in the day, LG Gupta, interacted with various representatives of religious and political organisations, along with members of the civil society, during his visit to Drass.
After listening to the issues highlighted by the delegations, the Lt Governor stated that the objective behind his visit to Drass was to interact directly with the people of the sub-division to understand their grievances and learn about their culture and aspirations.
The Lt Governor assured the public of Drass that he would strive to fulfil the responsibilities entrusted to him with the active cooperation of the people of Ladakh.
He informed them that developmental works in Drass are progressing at a fast pace and key infrastructure projects, including the construction of the Court Complex, Degree College, and Revenue Complex, are being expedited and are expected to be completed soon.
The Lt Governor emphasised that exploring tourism potential in Ladakh, particularly in Drass, will remain a top priority of the UT Administration.
Additionally, initiatives would be taken to generate livelihood opportunities for youth, ensuring inclusive development, he informed.
