‘Breakthrough’ in Zojila tunnel likely on Tuesday

09/06/2026

Zojila (J-K), Jun 8: Zojila Tunnel will see light of the day, literally, on Tuesday when a blast will lead to a breakthrough at the end of the world's longest single-tube bi-directional bypass built at record height.
The breakthrough will bring the decades-old dream of an all-weather connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh closer to reality, officials said. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari will witness the breakthrough blast, they said. The breakthrough is six months ahead of schedule, according to an official of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
"It was very tough to work on the construction of this tunnel. The conditions were very tough, still the work has almost been completed and that too without any accident.
"After the breakthrough, the civil works will take another 7-8 months and then the electrical works will begin. Hopefully, the tunnel will be opened for the public in January-February 2028," he said.
The tunnel -- 9.5 metre wide, 7.57 metre high, 13.153 km long - is a horseshoe-shaped single-tube, a two-lane road tunnel built at the height of around 11,578 feet above sea level. The geostrategically important tunnel on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway will provide a year-round weather-proof connectivity to Ladakh, and reduce the earlier 1-1.5 hours travel time to just 15 minutes drive, officials said.
The tunnel from Baltal in the Ganderbal district of central Kashmir to Minimarg in Drass district of Union Territory of Ladakh, has an 18-km approach road.
Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL), the agency which is executing the project, used the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) to pierce through the Himalayas and navigate the fragile geology.
The entire project is 31-km-long, including the approach road and bridges, stretching from Sonamarg to Minimarg. "The approach road from Sonamarg to Baltal is 18 km, and the main tunnel that starts from Baltal and goes to Minimarg is 13 km long," an official said.
"It is a monumental achievement in India's infrastructure landscape, cutting through some of the most formidable Himalayan rock formations to establish a dependable, all-weather link between Ladakh and the rest of the country," the person said.
The project integrates advanced safety measures and a semi-transverse ventilation system designed to maintain steady airflow deep within the mountains.It incorporates a Smart Tunnel (SCADA) system constructed using the NATM, and is equipped with CCTVs, radio control, uninterrupted power supply, and ventilation systems.
Once operational, the tunnel would enhance both civilian and military mobility across the treacherous Zojila Pass that is usually rendered shut for traffic for three winter months due to heavy snowfall.
"It will boost the tourism and economy, and enhance the logistics of the Indian Armed Forces. It will provide rapid, secure, all-year mobility for the forces to transport troops and supplies to the sensitive border region," the official said. Ladakh residents said the tunnel is a dream come true for them as they face immense hardships especially in the winter months.
"We have been eagerly waiting for this tunnel and express our gratitude to the government for this project," Basharat Ahmad, a Ladakh resident, said.
"We will be able to not only travel, but exchange commodities through the tunnel. It will boost our business and trade," he added.

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