All-weather ‘lifeline’ connecting Kashmir and Ladakh: Ends of Zojila Tunnel meet as mountain hole completes

For decades, winter in Ladakh meant isolation — roads blocked by snow, supplies rationed, and medical emergencies with no way out. On Tuesday, an explosion below the Zojila crossing brought this reality significantly closer to its end.

A sudden explosion at the eastern gate of the Zojila Tunnel near Minimarg in Ladakh has connected the two ends of the 13-km corridor under the Zojila Pass, puncturing the mountain. The event was attended by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

Tuesday marks the point at which both ends of the tunnel are now physically connected, but civil works, ventilation, electrical installations and safety systems must be installed.

“This tunnel is state-of-the-art. Built as per global safety standards, this tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity to Ladakh. I visited Ladakh when I was BJP president and people told me that everything remains closed for six months and there is connectivity. It pained me to see how the locals here are facing a lot of difficulties,” Gadkari said.

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It follows the Srinagar-Leh National Highway, with its western terminus at Paltal in Sonmarg in central Kashmir, and its eastern terminus at Minimarg in Drass, Ladakh. It is fed by an 18 km approach road at both ends. The entire project, including roads and bridges, extends over a distance of 31 km from Sonmarg to Minimarg.

Implementing agency Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) has deployed the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) – a technique that uses surrounding rock as part of the load-bearing structure – to drive through the geologically fragile Himalayas.

When the tunnel opens, transit time through the pass will drop to 15 minutes, and the trail will remain in operation year-round.

“For decades, residents of the region have faced enormous difficulties due to the closure of the Zojila Pass in winter. The tunnel would significantly improve the lives of residents by facilitating easier access to education, healthcare, tourism, trade and commerce,” the Prime Minister said on Tuesday.

During the 1999 Kargil War, Pakistani forces targeted positions overlooking the highway to strangle the Indian Army’s supply lines.

“Our government came to power in 2014 under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and gave top priority to infrastructure development. I was given the charge of this administration and then this project was started. The original tender for this project was $12,000 Crores and I am happy to announce that all the work related to this project has been completed $7000 crores and we have saved at least $5,000 crores,” the Union Minister said.

He added: “This is not just a tunnel, but rather a lifeline.”

The project was originally scheduled to be completed by September this year, but was subjected to a two-year delay.

In a parliamentary response to National Conference MP Mian Altaf Ahmed Larvi, Gadkari attributed the delay to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2024 terrorist attack on the Sonmarg Tunnel Project, and extreme weather conditions.

Officials at the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), which is overseeing the project, said Tuesday’s breakthrough was achieved six months ahead of the revised schedule.

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The Zojila Tunnel is the focus of a broader effort to build a continuous, all-weather road corridor between Srinagar and Leh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the previous link – the Z-Morh Tunnel in Sonmarg – in January. Once completed, the Zojila Tunnel will extend from this corridor to Minimarg.

The tunnel addresses the issue of road connectivity, but Cargill is still without direct air services, a gap that Abdullah used an event on Tuesday to fill. He appealed to Gadkari to use his influence to operate scheduled flights to the region.

“There is another dream that needs to be fulfilled, which is to provide regular and direct air service to Kargil. I have tried but without any success. This is another long-term demand of the people of Kargil,” Abdullah said, as quoted by PTI.

(With inputs from agencies)