Srinagar :The strategically significant Zojila Tunnel project is expected to achieve a major construction milestone on June 9, with the final breakthrough of the tunnel’s main tube likely to take place, marking a crucial step toward establishing all-weather road connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, is expected to attend the landmark event along with senior officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), NHIDCL, and project contractor Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Ltd.
The 13.15-kilometre-long Zojila Tunnel, being constructed beneath the Zojila Pass on the Srinagar–Leh National Highway, will connect Baltal in Ganderbal district with Minamarg in Drass, Kargil. The breakthrough will occur when excavation teams working from both ends of the tunnel meet underground, completing the excavation phase of the project.
Once completed, the tunnel will become India’s longest road tunnel and Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel at an altitude of 11,578 feet. The project is expected to reduce travel time across the Zojila Pass from more than three hours to approximately 15 minutes while ensuring year-round connectivity to Ladakh, a region often cut off during winter due to heavy snowfall and avalanches.
Executed by Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Limited at a sanctioned cost of ₹6,808.69 crore, the tunnel incorporates advanced engineering features including emergency lay-bys every 750 metres and multiple ventilation shafts. Construction began in 2021 after the project was awarded in 2020.
Officials have stated that while the breakthrough marks a significant achievement, finishing works such as tunnel lining, ventilation systems, and safety installations will continue. The project is scheduled for full commissioning by February 2028 and is expected to boost tourism, economic development, and defence logistics in the Himalayan region.
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