The Zoji-La tunnel has achieved a significant milestone today with the final breakthrough. The breakthrough has brought the decades-old dream of all-weather connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh closer to reality. Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari today triggered the final blast marking the breakthrough of the main Zojila tunnel at Minimarg in Ladakh, describing it as a historic moment for ensuring all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh. Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were also present on the occasion. 

 

Speaking on this occasion,, Nitin Gadkari said this tunnel would provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Leh, and it will boost strategic mobility, tourism and the local economy. Being constructed at an altitude of 11,578 feet above sea level, the Zojila tunnel is set to become Asia’s longest bi-directional road tunnel upon completion. The project includes the main tunnel, an escape tunnel, three vertical ventilation shafts and nearly 18 kilometres of approach roads.

 

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah termed the Zojila tunnel breakthrough a historic milestone, saying that it fulfils a long-cherished goal of ensuring year-round connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh. He said the closure of the Zojila axis during winters had long caused hardship, and the tunnel would transform lives by improving access to education, healthcare, tourism, trade and commerce. 

 

The Zoji-La tunnel is among the country’s most strategically significant road projects. 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 Drass in the Kargil district of Ladakh. The project is scheduled to be commissioned by February 2028. Once operational, the tunnel is expected to reduce travel time across the Zojila pass from more than three hours to around 15 minutes while bypassing snow-bound and accident-prone stretches of the highway.

 

The project is also expected to ensure year-round movement of defence personnel, essential supplies and tourists between Kashmir and Ladakh. This breakthrough represents a key stage in the large-scale infrastructure development, under which the 13.15-kilometre-long Zoji-La tunnel is being constructed beneath the Zoji-La Pass.

 

The project is considered crucial for ensuring all-weather road connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, as the existing highway remains closed for extended periods during winter due to heavy snowfall and harsh weather conditions. Once completed, the tunnel will enable year-round connectivity. The final breakthrough is being seen as a significant engineering achievement, with strong implications for defence logistics, regional connectivity, tourism, and economic development.

 

Beyond improving civilian mobility, the tunnel is expected to enhance freight movement, boost tourism, and improve access to remote regions that remain cut off for long periods during winter. With the breakthrough completed, focus will now shift to the remaining construction and finishing works required to make the tunnel fully operational.