Zojila Tunnel breakthrough on June 9

Srinagar, Jun 1: The much-awaited breakthrough of the strategically important Zojila Tunnel is likely to take place on June 9, marking a major milestone in one of India’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.

Sources told Greater Kashmir on Monday that Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari is expected to attend the landmark event.

The strategically crucial Zojila Tunnel is set to achieve its final breakthrough on June 9, marking a major milestone in all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh. Project officials said the 13.15-km long tunnel, which cuts through the Zojila Pass on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway, will see the last blast that connects the two ends of the main tunnel tube.

The breakthrough will link Baltal in Ganderbal district with Minamarg in Drass, Kargil.

They said Union Minister Gadkari is likely to attend the breakthrough ceremony, along with senior officials from NHAI, NHIDCL, and project executing agency Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd.

The officials said that the Engineers, workers working from the Kashmir and Ladakh sides of the Zojila Tunnel are set to meet underground on June 9, with the construction agency confirming that the “breakthrough” of the main tunnel tube is scheduled for the second week of June.

“The breakthrough is a landmark event. After this, lining, ventilation, and other finishing works will be expedited. The tunnel will provide all-weather access to Ladakh, bypassing the avalanche-prone Zojila Pass that used to remain closed for months earlier every year,” said a senior ZojiLa tunnel project official.

With the Z-Morh Tunnel near Sonamarg already operational, the Zojila breakthrough will complete the last missing link for all-weather access to Ladakh.

Work on the project began in 2020.

Once complete, the Zojila Tunnel will be India’s longest road tunnel and Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel at an altitude of 11,578 feet.

It will reduce travel time through Zojila from over 3 hours to just 15 minutes. The tunnel is also strategically vital for defence logistics and will boost tourism and economy in Ladakh and Ganderbal.

Locals in Sonamarg and Drass have welcomed the progress, saying year-round connectivity will end winter isolation. Officials said that the tunnel is expected to be fully commissioned by 2028. Once completed, the tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh, significantly reducing travel time and enhancing regional connectivity, tourism, and economic growth.

The 13.15-km Zojila tunnel, being executed by Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd at a sanctioned cost of Rs 6808.69 crore, is expected to be completed by February 2028. The project incorporates modern engineering features, including lay-bys at intervals of every 750 metres and three ventilation shafts to ensure operational efficiency and safety. The use of the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) from both the western and eastern portals for excavation was made.

The project was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2018.

The project was awarded to MEIL in 2020, however due to some unfavourable circumstances it faced early obstacles and finally the work started in 2021.

Former CEC LAHDH Leh, Tashi Gyalson said the project represents a major step towards ensuring all-weather connectivity between Ladakh and the rest of the country.

He termed the expected breakthrough a historic moment for the region and said the tunnel would substantially improve transportation, economic activity and accessibility. Gyalson said that the Zojila Tunnel, reflects the Centre’s emphasis on strengthening infrastructure in border and high-altitude regions.

He credited the project to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said Ladakh had witnessed accelerated infrastructure development over the past decade.