Zojila Tunnel Breakthrough Paves Way for All-Weather Ladakh Link (original) (raw)

Zojila Tunnel Breakthrough Paves Way for All-Weather Ladakh LinkObserver News ServiceDrass: The Rs 6,800-crore Zojila Tunnel project, set to become Asia's longest tunnel and a key all-weather link between Kashmir and Ladakh, achieved a major breakthrough on Tuesday as excavation teams met after blasting through the final 2.5 metres of rock inside the 13-kilometre tunnel.Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari performed the breakthrough blast at the project site located at an altitude of 11,578 feet above sea level, around 24 kilometres from Sonamarg and 103 kilometres from Srinagar.The breakthrough marks a significant milestone in one of India's most challenging infrastructure projects, which is being constructed through the fragile Himalayan terrain to provide year-round connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the Union Territory of Ladakh.Addressing reporters after the event, Gadkari described the tunnel as a lifeline for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh."This project is at a height of around 3,000 metres. The workers have contributed immensely, working in temperatures as low as minus four degrees Celsius. Nearly 80 per cent of the workforce belongs to this region. The tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Ladakh and transform the lives of the people," he said.The breakthrough blasting was carried out at an equidistant point of 6.5 kilometres from both ends, linking the East Portal and West Portal of the tunnel. In tunnelling terminology, a breakthrough refers to the moment when excavation teams working from opposite sides meet.Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were present during the breakthrough ceremony.Officials of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), which is overseeing the project, said the milestone had been achieved six months ahead of schedule.Authority Engineer for the project, Yousef Es'haghpour Rahimabadi, said approximately 85 per cent of the overall work has already been completed."After this breakthrough, civil works inside the tunnel will continue for another seven to eight months. Once that phase is completed, electrical and mechanical installations will begin," he said.Officials indicated that the tunnel is expected to be opened to the public by February 2028.Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the project fulfilled a long-standing aspiration of the people of Ladakh, who have historically remained cut off from the rest of the country during winter months."People of Ladakh have dreamt of this connectivity for a very long time. Lack of all-weather access affected education, tourism, healthcare and day-to-day life. This tunnel will improve living conditions and create new opportunities for the people of the region," Abdullah said.He also urged the Union government to further improve air connectivity to Ladakh in the future.The tunnel, measuring 13.153 kilometres in length, is designed as a horseshoe-shaped, single-tube, bi-directional two-lane road tunnel. It is 9.5 metres wide and 7.57 metres high and is being built at an elevation of around 11,578 feet above sea level.Together with an 18-kilometre approach road, bridges and associated infrastructure, the entire project spans 31 kilometres from Sonamarg in central Kashmir to Minimarg in the Drass sector of Ladakh.Once operational, the tunnel is expected to dramatically improve access to Drass, Kargil and Leh, while strengthening civilian transportation, logistics networks and military mobility in the strategically sensitive region.The project will also address the long-standing transportation challenges posed by the Zojila Pass, which remains closed for several months every year due to heavy snowfall, avalanches and extreme weather conditions. The closure often isolates Ladakh from the Kashmir Valley during winter.Officials said travel time through the Zojila sector is expected to reduce from more than an hour to approximately 15 minutes after the tunnel becomes operational.The tunnel is also expected to boost tourism, trade, economic activity and regional development by ensuring uninterrupted movement of people and goods throughout the year.The project is being executed by Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL), which adopted the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) to navigate the difficult Himalayan geology.MEIL began construction work in October 2020 after securing the contract from NHIDCL.According to company officials, the project has faced significant natural challenges over the years. The construction site has witnessed five avalanche incidents during the past five years, including a major avalanche in January 2023 when 172 workers stranded in the area were rescued by the Indian Army.Despite these difficulties, the company said the project has achieved 10 million safe man-hours during construction.Gadkari highlighted the government's efforts to reduce project costs through competitive bidding."Several rounds of bidding were conducted. During the fifth round, the estimated project cost was around Rs 12,000 crore. However, we are constructing it at around Rs 7,000 crore, resulting in savings of nearly Rs 5,000 crore," he said.MEIL officials said the company is targeting completion of the project by 2028 and will continue to operate and maintain the tunnel for five years after its commissioning.Among the world's highest tunnel projects and the longest tunnel project in Asia, the Zojila Tunnel is expected to emerge as a transformative infrastructure link, ending the seasonal isolation of Ladakh and ensuring reliable all-weather connectivity between the region and the Kashmir Valley for the first time.

KO photos by Abid Bhat

Drass- The Rs 6,800-crore Zojila Tunnel project, set to become Asia’s longest tunnel and a key all-weather link between Kashmir and Ladakh, achieved a major breakthrough on Tuesday as excavation teams met after blasting through the final 2.5 metres of rock inside the 13-kilometre tunnel.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari performed the breakthrough blast at the project site located at an altitude of 11,578 feet above sea level, around 24 kilometres from Sonamarg and 103 kilometres from Srinagar.

The breakthrough marks a significant milestone in one of India’s most challenging infrastructure projects, which is being constructed through the fragile Himalayan terrain to provide year-round connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the Union Territory of Ladakh.

Addressing reporters after the event, Gadkari described the tunnel as a lifeline for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

“This project is at a height of around 3,000 metres. The workers have contributed immensely, working in temperatures as low as minus four degrees Celsius. Nearly 80 per cent of the workforce belongs to this region. The tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Ladakh and transform the lives of the people,” he said.

The breakthrough blasting was carried out at an equidistant point of 6.5 kilometres from both ends, linking the East Portal and West Portal of the tunnel. In tunnelling terminology, a breakthrough refers to the moment when excavation teams working from opposite sides meet.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were present during the breakthrough ceremony.

Officials of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), which is overseeing the project, said the milestone had been achieved six months ahead of schedule.

Authority Engineer for the project, Yousef Es’haghpour Rahimabadi, said approximately 85 per cent of the overall work has already been completed.

“After this breakthrough, civil works inside the tunnel will continue for another seven to eight months. Once that phase is completed, electrical and mechanical installations will begin,” he said.

Officials indicated that the tunnel is expected to be opened to the public by February 2028.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the project fulfilled a long-standing aspiration of the people of Ladakh, who have historically remained cut off from the rest of the country during winter months.

“People of Ladakh have dreamt of this connectivity for a very long time. Lack of all-weather access affected education, tourism, healthcare and day-to-day life. This tunnel will improve living conditions and create new opportunities for the people of the region,” Abdullah said.

He also urged the Union government to further improve air connectivity to Ladakh in the future.

The tunnel, measuring 13.153 kilometres in length, is designed as a horseshoe-shaped, single-tube, bi-directional two-lane road tunnel. It is 9.5 metres wide and 7.57 metres high and is being built at an elevation of around 11,578 feet above sea level.

Together with an 18-kilometre approach road, bridges and associated infrastructure, the entire project spans 31 kilometres from Sonamarg in central Kashmir to Minimarg in the Drass sector of Ladakh.

Once operational, the tunnel is expected to dramatically improve access to Drass, Kargil and Leh, while strengthening civilian transportation, logistics networks and military mobility in the strategically sensitive region.

The project will also address the long-standing transportation challenges posed by the Zojila Pass, which remains closed for several months every year due to heavy snowfall, avalanches and extreme weather conditions. The closure often isolates Ladakh from the Kashmir Valley during winter.

Officials said travel time through the Zojila sector is expected to reduce from more than an hour to approximately 15 minutes after the tunnel becomes operational.

The tunnel is also expected to boost tourism, trade, economic activity and regional development by ensuring uninterrupted movement of people and goods throughout the year.

The project is being executed by Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL), which adopted the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) to navigate the difficult Himalayan geology.

MEIL began construction work in October 2020 after securing the contract from NHIDCL.

According to company officials, the project has faced significant natural challenges over the years. The construction site has witnessed five avalanche incidents during the past five years, including a major avalanche in January 2023 when 172 workers stranded in the area were rescued by the Indian Army.

Despite these difficulties, the company said the project has achieved 10 million safe man-hours during construction.

Gadkari highlighted the government’s efforts to reduce project costs through competitive bidding.

“Several rounds of bidding were conducted. During the fifth round, the estimated project cost was around Rs 12,000 crore. However, we are constructing it at around Rs 7,000 crore, resulting in savings of nearly Rs 5,000 crore,” he said.

MEIL officials said the company is targeting completion of the project by 2028 and will continue to operate and maintain the tunnel for five years after its commissioning.

Among the world’s highest tunnel projects and the longest tunnel project in Asia, the Zojila Tunnel is expected to emerge as a transformative infrastructure link, ending the seasonal isolation of Ladakh and ensuring reliable all-weather connectivity between the region and the Kashmir Valley for the first time.