Zojila Tunnel nears excavation breakthrough as 140 metres of work left

Ganderbal, May 11: The strategic Zojila Tunnel along the Srinagar-Leh National Highway is nearing a major milestone, with excavation work expected to achieve a “breakthrough” by the end of May, marking a major milestone for all-weather connectivity to the Union Territory of Ladakh, officials associated with the project said.

They said the engineers, workers working from the Kashmir and Ladakh sides of the Zojila Tunnel are set to meet underground on May 31, with the construction agency confirming that the “breakthrough” of the 13.153 Km main tunnel tube is scheduled for the last week of May.

A senior Project official of the Megha Engineering Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) told Greater Kashmir that only 140 metres of rock remains between the two headings, one advancing from Baltal in Ganderbal and the other from Minamarg in Drass.

“We are progressing. If weather holds, the two teams will shake hands inside the mountain on May 31,” he said.

Officials said the breakthrough will be a symbolic moment but not the end of work. Lining, pavement, electro-mechanical works, ventilation, and safety systems will take another few years.

Once operational, travel time across Zojila will drop from over 3 hours to 15 minutes.

The Army said year-round connectivity would cut logistical delays to forward areas in Kargil, Drass, and Leh.

Local contractors and workers, including many from Kargil and Ganderbal, have been working in two shifts despite sub-zero temperatures and low oxygen.

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

The 14.5 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. However, officials highlighted that poor rock quality in certain stretches has posed challenges, impacting the pace of progress.

Being constructed in one of the world’s most challenging terrains, the tunnel is set to become India’s longest road tunnel and Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel.

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.