Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday triggered the final blast marking the breakthrough of the main Zojila Tunnel, describing the achievement as a “historic moment” in ensuring all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh.
The event was attended by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Ladakh MP Mohammad Haneefa, Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor of LAHDC Kargil Dr Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon, the Chief Secretary and DGP of Ladakh, senior officials of NHIDCL and BRO, and representatives of Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd.
The breakthrough connected both ends of the 13.15-kilometre main tunnel being constructed on National Highway-1 between Baltal in Kashmir and Minamarg in the Drass sector of Ladakh. Gadkari triggered the blast using a remote detonator at the East Portal near Minamarg, marking a major engineering milestone in one of India’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.
“This tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Leh, ending Ladakh’s winter isolation. It will boost strategic mobility, tourism and the local economy,” Gadkari said after the ceremony.
Being constructed at an altitude of 11,578 feet above sea level, the Zojila Tunnel is poised to become Asia’s longest bi-directional road tunnel upon completion. The project comprises the main tunnel, an escape tunnel, three vertical ventilation shafts and nearly 18 kilometres of approach roads.
The project, estimated to cost ₹6,809 crore, has achieved more than 75 per cent physical progress, officials said. Following the breakthrough, work on tunnel lining, road pavement and electro-mechanical installations will be accelerated, with commissioning targeted for February 2028.
Once operational, the tunnel is expected to reduce travel time across the Zojila Pass from over three hours to around 15 minutes, while bypassing snow-bound and accident-prone stretches of the highway.
The project will also facilitate year-round movement of defence personnel, essential supplies and tourists between Kashmir and Ladakh, significantly enhancing regional connectivity and strategic preparedness.
Local leaders from Kargil and Ganderbal hailed the breakthrough as a landmark achievement, describing the tunnel as a “lifeline for Ladakh” that will transform connectivity, economic activity and access to essential services across the region.
