MINIMARG (DRASS), LADAKH | JUNE 09: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday accompanied Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari during the historic breakthrough ceremony of the Zojila Tunnel.
Marking a major engineering milestone, both ends of the strategically important tunnel on the Srinagar–Leh National Highway were successfully connected.
The breakthrough was initiated by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who pressed a remote-triggered blasting mechanism at the East Portal site near Minimarg in Ladakh. The event was witnessed by Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and other senior officials.
With this development, the project moves closer to completion of what will be one of the most critical all-weather road links between Kashmir and Ladakh. Once operational, the tunnel is expected to reduce travel time across Zojila Pass from 1–1.5 hours to just about 15 minutes, significantly improving year-round mobility.
The tunnel is a geostrategically vital infrastructure project measuring 13.153 km in length, 9.5 metres in width, and 7.57 metres in height, built at an altitude of around 11,578 feet above sea level. It is a horseshoe-shaped, single-tube, two-lane road tunnel designed to ensure uninterrupted connectivity even in extreme weather conditions.
The project is being executed by the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the tunnel as a project that will “transform daily life” in the region.
He said it would ease access to education, healthcare and markets, and significantly boost tourism and trade. “It will bring improvements in people’s lives that we may not fully realise today,” he noted, while congratulating the local population.
The Chief Minister also welcomed the breakthrough as the fulfilment of a long-pending demand of the region, while stressing the need to complete the remaining works at the earliest so that the tunnel can be fully operational.
On broader connectivity, Omar Abdullah highlighted the need for improved air connectivity for Kargil. He said efforts had been made in this direction but more support was required.
Referring to this, he said there remains “one aspiration still unfulfilled” and urged the Union Minister to support regular flight connectivity for Kargil, expressing hope that it would soon become a reality.
He concluded by congratulating the people of Drass and appreciating the efforts of all stakeholders involved in the project.
Also present on the occasion were Chief Executive Councillor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, Member of Parliament Ladakh Haji Mohd Haneefa Jan, along with senior civil, military and project officials.
