• ₹6,800-crore project to end seasonal road closures
• 30-km strategic corridor nearing completion stage
• 11,578-ft engineering marvel in final excavation phase
• Over 1,043 locals engaged in mega tunnel project
Srinagar: The strategically significant Zojila Tunnel project, aimed at providing all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh, is on the verge of achieving a major milestone with less than 100 metres of excavation work remaining before the much-awaited breakthrough.
Officials associated with the project said the final breakthrough is expected by the end of this month, marking a historic moment in one of India’s most challenging and ambitious infrastructure projects in the Himalayan region.
Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL), the executing agency for the project, said only around 90 metres of tunnelling work remained as of Saturday.
Joint Chief Operating Officer of MEIL, Harpal Singh told Kashmir Horizon that the “handshake” between the two ends of the tunnel, Baltal on the Kashmir side and Minimarg on the Kargil side would take place once the final excavation is completed.
Located at an altitude of 11,578 feet, the Zojila Tunnel is being constructed through rugged Himalayan terrain and is considered a strategic lifeline connecting Srinagar with Leh via Drass and Kargil throughout the year.
The tunnel is expected to end the long-standing problem of seasonal disconnection between Ladakh and the Kashmir Valley during harsh winters, when heavy snowfall and avalanches frequently force closure of the Zojila Pass for months.
Every winter, traffic movement on the Srinagar-Leh highway remains dependent on weather conditions and snow-clearance operations. This year too, multiple avalanche incidents were reported in the Zojila sector. In one major incident, seven people lost their lives after a snow avalanche struck the pass, while another incident left a driver injured after his vehicle was trapped beneath snow.
Officials said the tunnel will not only strengthen civilian mobility but will also significantly improve military logistics and strategic access to border areas in Ladakh.
The Zojila Tunnel forms a crucial part of the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway and is being seen as a game-changing project for economic growth, tourism, trade and regional connectivity in the Union Territory of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.
Apart from strategic importance, the project is also generating employment opportunities for local residents. According to official figures, over 1,000 local people have been employed by consultants, contractors and subcontractors associated with the project.
The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has stated that the project consists of a 13.153-kilometre main tunnel along with 17.030 kilometres of approach roads, taking the total length of the project to over 30 kilometres.
Being constructed at an estimated cost of ₹6,809.69 crore, the tunnel project is officially scheduled for completion by September 29, 2026.
However, officials indicated that emergency movement of vehicles may become possible after the breakthrough stage is achieved, even though full-scale operations are likely to take more than two additional years due to finishing and safety works.
Once completed, the Zojila Tunnel is expected to transform connectivity in the region by ensuring uninterrupted access between Kashmir and Ladakh, reducing travel time, improving defence preparedness and boosting socio-economic development in remote border areas.
