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A FREE INITIATIVE FOR CSE PRELIMS 2024
TOP 10 TUNNELS IN NEWS
SHINKUN LA TUNNEL -PASS
MAKING HEADLINES LATELY
KUTHIRAN TWIN-TUBE
TUNNEL
IN WESTERN GHATS
CHENANI-NASHRI TUNNEL
LONGEST ROAD TUNNEL IN INDIA AND THE LONGEST
BI-DIRECTIONAL HIGHWAY TUNNEL IN ASIA
DAY. 65
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Shinkun La Tunnel
Connecting Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh
Recent Development: BRO Opens Nimmu-Padam-Darcha Road
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has recently in April 2024 connected
the strategic 298-km long Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road in Ladakh, providing a
third route apart from the Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh highways.
This new road will connect Manali to Leh through Darcha and Nimmu on the
Kargil-Leh Highway, significantly reducing travel time and distance compared
to the existing routes. The Shinkun La tunnel will be constructed beneath the
Shinkun La pass on the Nimu-Padam-Darcha road link.
The Shinkun La Tunnel has been in the news over the past year as the Indian
government has approved and expedited its construction to provide all-
weather connectivity between Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh.
In February 2023, the Union Cabinet gave the go-ahead for the construction
of the 4.1-km tunnel at a cost of Rs 1,681 crore (168.1 million), with a target
completion date of December 2025.
Location and Geography
Shinkun La, also known as Shinku La or Shingo La, is a high mountain
pass located on the border between the Lahaul region of Himachal
Pradesh and the Zanskar region of Ladakh.
The pass is situated at an altitude of 5,091 meters (16,703 feet) in the
Himalayan mountain range.
The tunnel will be constructed beneath the Shinkun La pass on the Nimu-
Padam-Darcha road link.
The south portal of the tunnel will be at Patseo in Lahaul, about 30 km
from Darcha village, while the north portal will be at Lakhang in the
Zanskar valley of Ladakh.
Strategic Importance
The Shinkun La Tunnel and the Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road are of great
strategic importance for the following reasons:
They will provide an alternative all-weather route to Ladakh, which
remains cut off from the rest of the country for several months during
winter due to heavy snowfall on the existing Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh
highways.
The new road and tunnel will significantly reduce the travel distance and
time between Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh.
This will make military movement easier even during the winter months
and help in swifter deployment of troops and equipment to the border
areas.
Impact on Local Economy and Connectivity
The completion of the Shinkun La Tunnel and the Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road
is expected to have a positive impact on the local economy and connectivity:
It will transform the lives of the residents of the remote Zanskar valley,
who remain cut off from the rest of the world for about six months every
year due to heavy snowfall.
The tunnel and road will provide them with year-round access to better
medical facilities and economic opportunities.
The new infrastructure is also likely to boost tourism in the Zanskar valley,
improving the financial condition of the local residents.
It will connect about 15 villages of the Zanskar valley in Ladakh with
around 136 villages in the Lahaul valley of Himachal Pradesh.
In conclusion, the Shinkun La Tunnel and the recently opened Nimmu-Padam-
Darcha road are crucial infrastructure projects that will enhance India's
strategic capabilities in the border areas while also improving connectivity and
economic prospects for the local population in the remote Himalayan regions
of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh.
Kuthiran Twin-Tube Tunnel
A Marvel of Engineering in Kerala's Western Ghats
Why in News?
The Kuthiran Twin-Tube Tunnel in Kerala has been making headlines over
past few months. While the opening of one tunnel in August 2021 improved
connectivity in Kerala's infrastructure, the project has been making news. The
first tunnel was closed in January 2024 for concreting works, causing big
traffic disruptions. As of March 2024, delays in reopening and ongoing traffic
congestion has been making news. Concerns have also been raised about
the environmental impact of the tunnel construction on the eco-sensitive
Western Ghats region.
Introduction
The Kuthiran Twin-Tube Tunnel is an engineering marvel located in the
Western Ghats of Kerala, India. This tunnel is a part of the Thrissur-Palakkad
Highway (NH 544), which connects the districts of Thrissur and Palakkad. The
tunnel has significantly reduced travel time and improved connectivity
between these two regions.
Geographical Significance
The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri Mountains, is a mountain
range that runs parallel to the western coast of the Indian peninsula. This
mountain range is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known for its unique
biodiversity and geological features.
The Kuthiran Twin-Tube Tunnel passes through the Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife
Sanctuary, which is a part of the Western Ghats. The tunnel cuts through the
Kuthiran Hills, which are a part of the Anaimalai Hills range known for their
rugged terrain and dense forests.
Tunnel Specifications
The Kuthiran Twin-Tube Tunnel consists of two parallel tunnels, each
approximately 1 km long (955 m and 944 m) and 13 m wide. The tunnels are
designed to accommodate two lanes of traffic in each direction. The tunnels
are located at an elevation of approximately 200 m above sea level.
The tunnels have been constructed using modern tunneling techniques and
are equipped with safety features such as fire detection and suppression
systems, emergency exits, and ventilation systems.
Chenani-Nashri Tunnel
The Chenani-Nashri Tunnel: Connecting the Himalayas
The Chenani-Nashri Tunnel, also known as the Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee
Tunnel, is a modern engineering marvel situated in the Indian state of Jammu
and Kashmir. This tunnel is not only the longest road tunnel in India but also
the longest bi-directional highway tunnel in Asia.
Location and Geography
The Chenani-Nashri Tunnel is located on National Highway 44 (NH 44), which
connects the cities of Jammu and Srinagar. Situated in the Lower Himalayas,
the tunnel is built at an altitude of approximately 1,200 meters (3,937 feet).
Tunnel Feature Description
Location Jammu and Kashmir, India
Highway National Highway 44 (NH 44)
Altitude 1,200 meters (3,937 feet)
Mountain Range Lower Himalayas
Traversing the Mountains
The tunnel connects the villages of Chenani and Nashri, bypassing the
challenging Patnitop range known for its steep slopes, unstable rock
formations, and frequent landslides.
Tunnel Specifications Details
Length 9.28 kilometers (5.8 miles)
Shape Horseshoe
Diameter 13 meters (43 feet)
Traffic Flow Two-lane, bi-directional
Benefits of the Tunnel
Reduced Distance: The tunnel reduces the distance between Jammu
and Srinagar from 41 kilometers to just 10 kilometers.
Shorter Travel Time: Travel time is cut down by about 2 hours.
Improved Safety: The tunnel bypasses 44 avalanche and landslide-
prone spots on the highway.
Overcoming Geographical Challenges
The construction of the Chenani-Nashri Tunnel faced numerous challenges
due to the complex geography of the region, such as:
Cutting through the Patnitop range's flyshoid geological formation
Dealing with a maximum overburden of 1,050 meters
Excavating tough Himalayan rocks using advanced drilling and tunneling
machinery
Ventilation and Safety Features
The tunnel is equipped with state-of-the-art ventilation and safety features:
Fully transverse ventilation system
Fresh air inlets at 8-meter intervals
Exhaust outlets every 100 meters
Integrated control system for:
Ventilation
Communication
Power supply
Incident detection
SOS call boxes
Firefighting
Completely waterproof tubes
