By Tehelka Web Desk
The final breakthrough of the strategically important Zojila Tunnel is set to take place on June 9, marking a major milestone in one of India’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari will oversee the final blasting from the Kargil side of the tunnel, which stretches 13.14 kilometres beneath the Himalayas at an altitude of 11,578 feet.
The all-weather tunnel will connect Kashmir’s Ganderbal district with Ladakh’s Kargil district, providing year-round connectivity and bypassing the snow-bound Zojila Pass, which often remains closed during winter months.
Constructed at a cost of over ₹6,800 crore, the project is expected to significantly improve civilian and military movement to Ladakh. Travel time between Ganderbal and Kargil is expected to reduce from around three hours to about 20 minutes.
Work on the tunnel began in 2020 and faced several challenges, including extreme weather, avalanches and difficult geological conditions. The project was executed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method, which is suited to fragile mountain terrain.
The tunnel includes a two-lane single-tube carriageway, ventilation infrastructure, culverts, cut-and-cover sections and associated tunnels. The western portal is located at Baltal in Kashmir, while the eastern portal is at Meenamarg in Ladakh.
