Drass/Minimarg, June 9: In a landmark achievement for India’s infrastructure sector, the ambitious Rs 6,800-crore Zojila Tunnel project on Tuesday recorded a major breakthrough as the final 2.5 metres of excavation of the 13-kilometre-long tunnel were blasted through, paving the way for year-round connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari performed the ceremonial breakthrough blast at the tunnel site located at an altitude of 11,578 feet above sea level, approximately 24 kilometres from Sonamarg and 103 kilometres from Srinagar.
Describing the project as a lifeline for the people of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, Gadkari lauded the dedication of workers who continued construction under challenging weather conditions, including temperatures dipping to minus four degrees Celsius.
“This tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity to Ladakh and transform the lives of people in the region. Nearly 80 per cent of the workforce belongs to the local area, making it a project built by the people for the people,” he said.
The breakthrough was achieved when excavation teams working from both ends of the tunnel met at the designated point, connecting the East Portal near Minimarg with the West Portal near Baltal. Officials of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) said the milestone was reached six months ahead of schedule.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were present during the event.
According to project officials, nearly 85 per cent of the overall work has been completed. Authority Engineer Yousef Es’haghpour Rahimabadi said civil construction is expected to continue for another seven to eight months before electrical and mechanical installations begin. The tunnel is likely to be opened for public use by February 2028.
The horseshoe-shaped single-tube tunnel, measuring 13.153 kilometres in length, 9.5 metres in width and 7.57 metres in height, is being constructed at one of the world’s highest elevations for a road tunnel project.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah termed the breakthrough a historic moment and said the tunnel fulfils a long-standing aspiration of the people of Ladakh.
“People of Ladakh have dreamt of all-weather connectivity for decades. The tunnel will improve access to education, healthcare, tourism and economic opportunities, while ending the prolonged isolation caused by winter road closures,” Abdullah said. He also urged the Centre to further strengthen air connectivity to the region.
Once operational, the tunnel will dramatically improve access to Drass, Kargil and Leh, reducing travel time through the Zojila sector from nearly one to one-and-a-half hours to just about 15 minutes. The project is expected to significantly boost tourism, trade, logistics and overall regional development while strengthening strategic connectivity along the Srinagar-Leh National Highway.
The tunnel is being executed by Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), a sophisticated engineering technique designed to tackle complex geological conditions in mountainous terrain.
The entire project spans 31 kilometres, including an 18-kilometre approach road and multiple bridges stretching from Sonamarg in Ganderbal district to Minimarg in Ladakh’s Drass sector.
Gadkari said the government had achieved substantial savings on the project. “After multiple rounds of bidding, the estimated cost had reached around Rs 12,000 crore. We are constructing it at around Rs 7,000 crore, resulting in savings of nearly Rs 5,000 crore,” he said.
Despite facing formidable challenges, including five major avalanche incidents over the past five years, the project has maintained an impressive safety record. In January 2023, the Indian Army rescued 172 workers stranded following a severe avalanche. MEIL said the project has successfully completed 10 million safe man-hours.
Besides being Asia’s longest road tunnel, the Zojila Tunnel is among the world’s highest tunnel projects. Once commissioned, it will ensure uninterrupted connectivity to Ladakh throughout the year, overcoming the annual winter closure of the Zojila Pass caused by heavy snowfall, avalanches and extreme weather conditions.
Calling it one of the most challenging infrastructure ventures in the Himalayas, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said the project reflects India’s growing engineering capabilities and will serve as a transformative asset for both civilian and strategic mobility in the region.
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