New Delhi: NHIDCL, a subsidiary that is fully owned by the Ministry of Road and Highway, has now urged the Ministry of Defense (MOD) to provide the task of preparing detailed project reports (DPRS) from two tunnels to the border road organization (Bro).
MOD has given these two tasks to the NHIDCL in 2018 in addition to other tunnels in Shinkun-La Pass, which is very important for connectivity all weather to Leh from Himachal Pradesh.
In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Defense on June 26, the National Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.
(NHIIDCL) has said even though the organization places “serious efforts” for the last three years to complete the DPR for Shinkun-La Tunnel including Airborne surveys Electro-Magnetics (AEM), MOD has approved a bro option from a shorter long tunnel, “Although Bro has not prepared the DPR” “Remembering above and the fact that bro is directly under the mod under the mod and understand the mod requirements, it is proposed To restore the work of the DPR from the two remaining tunnels from Lachung-la and Tanglang-la to MOD on where they were asked and the mod was asked to remove all NHIDCL contributions that were delayed to date, “Nhidcl said.
The Defense Ministry in March 2018 has urged NHIIDCL to conduct a feasibility study and preparation of the DPRS for three tunnels – Shinkun-la, Tanglang-la and Lachung-La based on payment priorities.
The DPR’s consultant has submitted an initial report for three tunnels in July and August 2020.
The DPR for Shinkun-La was completed in December last year.
NHIDCL has also conducted a AEM survey of Shinkun-la and Tanglang-la in March and May this year.
However, at a meeting chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh was a decision taken for 4.25 km of tunnels proposed by Bro not a NHIDCL proposal for the tunnel 13.55 km.
Then in June another meeting was held under the Minister of Highways Nitin Gadkari and the BRO proposal was approved “remembering time constraints”.