Border Roads Organisation reopens strategic Zojila pass

• The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) recently reopened the strategic Zojila Pass that acts as a gateway between the union territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.

Zojila Pass:

• Zojila Pass, also known as ‘The Mountain Pass of Blizzards’, is a strategic pass that connects Kashmir Valley to Ladakh.
• It is located on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh highway (NH-1) at a height of 11,650 feet.
• The pass remains closed for almost half of the year due to heavy snowfall.

History:

• It was the site of the Indo-Pakistan War of 1947-48.
• It was captured by militias aided by the Pakistan Army in 1848, with the ultimate aim of capturing Ladakh.
• However, the pass itself was captured by the Indian Army on 1st November 1948 in an assault codenamed Operation Bison.

What is Zojila Tunnel?

• Location: It is an under-construction tunnel situated at an altitude of 11,578 ft (around 3,500 metres) on the Srinagar-Leh Highway in Jammu and Kashmir.
• The tunnel would provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Leh on NH-1.
• Total Length: 14.15 km.
• It will be India’s longest road tunnel, and Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel.
• It would be 9.5-meter wide and 7.57-meter high in the shape of a horseshoe.

Prelims Take Away

• Zojila Pass
• Zojila tunnel
• Location Based Question