Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said "We are planning to make some design changes that may include doing away with escape tunnel and instead (have) alternative tunnels to cross from one side to the other as it will be my endeavour to prevent cost escalation and build it at the previous estimated cost of Rs 6,800 crore..."

The Zojila tunnel at an altitude of 11,578 feet is strategically important for India. Currently Ladakh region is cut off from Kashmir in the winters because of heavy snow. The project s stalled almost for 6 years now with contractors abandoning and no takers in the subsequent tender etc.

Originally the project was approved with a Parallel Escape (Egress) tunnel between Baltal and Minamarg on the Srinagar-Leh section of NH-1A.

Also the original plans included most advanced tunnel systems with a radio system, overheight vehicle detection, fully transverse ventilation system, UPS, emergency lighting, CCTV monitoring, variable message signs (VMS), traffic logging etc.

It is not clear at this point in time if there will be any omissions on these systems.

http://www.businessworld.in/article/Looking-To-Get-Zojila-Tunnel-Completed-Without-Cost-Escalation-Project-May-Undergo-Design-Changes-Gadkari/17-02-2020-184255/