Minimarg

A major milestone was achieved on Tuesday in the construction of the strategically significant Zojila Tunnel as engineers successfully completed the final breakthrough, moving the ambitious project a step closer to reality.

The achievement marks a crucial stage in the development of what is set to become the world's longest single-tube, bi-directional road tunnel at such a high altitude, promising year-round connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh.

Officials confirmed that the final 2.5-metre section separating the two ends of the tunnel was breached successfully through a controlled blast.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari remotely triggered the blast near the tunnel's eastern portal at Minimarg in Ladakh. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were present during the event.

According to officials of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), the breakthrough was achieved nearly six months ahead of the planned schedule.

The tunnel is expected to be opened to the public by February 2028.

Authorities said that while the breakthrough marks a significant accomplishment, civil construction work will continue for another seven to eight months. Installation of electrical systems and other operational infrastructure will follow.

Yousef Es'haghpour Rahimabadi, the Authority Engineer associated with the project, told PTI that approximately 85 per cent of the overall work had already been completed.

The tunnel, stretching 13.153 kilometres, has been designed as a horseshoe-shaped, single-tube structure accommodating two lanes of traffic. Measuring 9.5 metres in width and 7.57 metres in height, it has been constructed at an altitude of around 11,578 feet above sea level.

Built along the Srinagar-Leh National Highway, the project is expected to transform connectivity to Ladakh by ensuring uninterrupted access throughout the year, irrespective of weather conditions. The tunnel will significantly cut travel time across the Zojila Pass, reducing a journey that currently takes between one and one-and-a-half hours to just around 15 minutes.

Connecting Baltal in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district with Minimarg in Ladakh's Drass sector, the project also includes an 18-kilometre approach road.

The construction is being executed by Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL), which employed the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) to navigate the Himalayan terrain and its fragile geological conditions. The complete project spans 31 kilometres, including approach roads and bridges linking Sonmarg to Minimarg.

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Once commissioned, the tunnel is expected to substantially improve civilian movement and strengthen military logistics by ensuring uninterrupted access through the Zojila Pass, which traditionally remains closed for several months during winter due to heavy snowfall.