Final Blast, Historic Breakthrough: Zojila Tunnel to End Kashmir's Winter Isolation

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari will trigger the final blast at the Zojila Tunnel on Today, marking the defining construction milestone of one of India's most ambitious infrastructure projects, a 13.153-km passage carved through the Himalayas that will permanently end the annual winter isolation of Ladakh from the Kashmir Valley.

The tunnel, running between Baltal in Jammu and Kashmir and Meenamarg in the Kargil-Drass belt of Ladakh, sits at an elevation of 11,578 feet above sea level and, once completed, will become the world's longest single-tube bi-directional road tunnel at altitude, surpassing even the Atal Tunnel at Rohtang. Tunnelling has been carried out simultaneously from both ends, and Tuesday's blast will seal the two faces into one continuous bore.

Construction began on October 1, 2020, with the first blasting at the Nilgrar Tunnel on October 14 that year. Part one of the project, covering approach roads, bridges, the Nilgrar twin tunnels, cut-and-cover works, and snow gallery components, was completed on March 15, 2025. The total project corridor, including roads and bridges, extends to 30.894 km. The project is being executed by Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) for the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).

The tunnel has been built using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), suited to the complex geology of the Himalayan mountain range. Once the breakthrough is achieved, work will shift to internal infrastructure, concrete lining, ventilation systems, and other safety installations, along with a dedicated walkway for maintenance and emergency operations. The completed tunnel will feature automatic and emergency lighting, emergency phones, message signalling, and radio systems for passenger safety.

The project has not been without setbacks. Originally slated for completion by September 2026, the deadline has been extended to February 2028 , over a year behind schedule. Gadkari, in a written reply to Parliament, attributed the delays to Covid-19 disruptions, a terrorist attack near the adjacent Sonamarg Tunnel Project , and prolonged harsh weather. The total estimated cost has risen to Rs 6,809 crore , of which Rs 3,934.42 crore has already been spent. The project has, however, achieved 10 million safe man-hours as of April 2026.

The stakes extend well beyond convenience. The Zojila Pass is currently closed for roughly six months each year due to heavy snowfall and avalanches, severing road access to Drass, Kargil, and Leh and leaving the Indian Army dependent on air logistics for supplies to a strategically sensitive border zone. Once fully operational, the project will ensure 365-day connectivity between Srinagar and Ladakh, improving access to Drass, Kargil, Leh and surrounding regions. The travel time across the pass, which can stretch to several hours in good conditions, will be cut to roughly 15 minutes through the tunnel. Over 1,043 locals have been employed across the supervising consultant, contractor, and sub-contractor teams during construction — a figure that hints at the scale of economic activity the project is already generating in the region.