Ladakh: Zojila Tunnel Breakthrough Marks Milestone
“This is a historic day. The Zojila Tunnel will create a world record once fully operational. It will serve as a lifeline for the people of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir": Nitin Gadkari
ZOJILA/LADAKH: The Zojila Tunnel, the world’s longest single‑tube bi‑directional road at the highest altitude, achieved its final breakthrough with the blast of the last five metres on Tuesday, marking a historic milestone in India’s infrastructure story.
Once operational, the tunnel will cut travel time between Kashmir Valley and Ladakh from 1.5 hours to 15 minutes, ensuring year‑round connectivity between Srinagar and Ladakh. It will improve access to Drass, Kargil, Leh and surrounding regions, while strengthening logistics and strategic mobility for the armed forces.
Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari pressed the remote button that triggered the breakthrough blast near the East Portal at Minimarg in Ladakh. “This is a historic day. The Zojila Tunnel will create a world record once fully operational. It will serve as a lifeline for the people of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir,” he said.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the breakthrough as the fulfilment of a long‑awaited dream. “The tunnel will improve transportation, create new opportunities and boost tourism growth. Now that the breakthrough is complete, I hope the remaining work will be finished swiftly,” he said.
Project manager Col. A.K. Shiv Kumar told Deccan Chronicle that the achievement was deeply satisfying. “Whatever we have achieved is without any incident, injury or fatal accident,” he said.
Located between Baltal (Sonamarg) and Meenamarg (Drass & Kargil), the tunnel is being built to provide all‑weather connectivity across one of India’s most challenging Himalayan corridors, often cut off by snowfall and avalanches. At 11,578 feet above sea level, it represents one of the most significant engineering feats in India’s mountain infrastructure sector.
The project, executed by Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) for NHIDCL, uses the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), suited to fragile Himalayan geology. Locals rejoiced at the breakthrough, saying it would benefit shopkeepers, dry fruit sellers and cab drivers with year‑round traffic.
Ameen, a resident of Kashmir, said: “Kargil and Ladakh are prominent destinations for tourism. The tunnel will boost tourist footfall, benefiting locals in revenue generation.”
At the national level, the tunnel strengthens operational mobility and logistics preparedness in a strategically important frontier corridor. With excavation now complete, the project will move to lining, finishing works, electro‑mechanical installations and corridor development for operational readiness.
The longest bi-directional road tunnel
- Length of the Zojila Main tunnel: 13.153km
- Built across Zojila pass on Srinagar-Leh NH-1 situated at an altitude of 11,578feet
- all weather, hassle free and safe connectivity
- Estimated time for project likely completion date: February 2028
