GANDERBAL: The strategically important 13.15-kilometre Zojila Tunnel connecting Jammu and Kashmir with Ladakh is set to achieve a major milestone on June 9, when Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari is scheduled to trigger the breakthrough blast marking the completion of excavation work.
Once completed, the tunnel will become the world’s longest single-tube bi-directional road tunnel at an altitude of nearly 11,500 feet, providing all-weather connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh.
Constructed beneath the Zojila Pass, the tunnel is expected to ensure year-round road access between Kashmir and Kargil, reducing dependence on the weather-sensitive mountain pass that often remains closed during winter months.
Harpal Singh, Joint Chief Operating Officer of Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited (MEIL), said excavation has entered its final phase, with only a few metres of digging remaining before the two ends of the tunnel meet.
He said construction was undertaken simultaneously from the Baltal side in Kashmir and the Minamarg side in Ladakh to expedite progress.
Awarded in 2020 and taken up for execution in 2021, the project has been built under challenging Himalayan conditions, including weak rock formations, water seepage and difficult terrain. More than 1,000 engineers, technicians and workers are currently engaged in the project.
Being constructed at an estimated cost of around Rs 2,600 crore, the tunnel is designed as a single-tube, two-lane structure with a horseshoe-shaped profile and is being built using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), a technique suited to complex mountain geology.
Following the breakthrough, work will continue on internal infrastructure, including concrete lining, ventilation systems and other safety installations.
The tunnel will also feature a dedicated walkway for maintenance and emergency operations. Upon completion, it is expected to significantly enhance connectivity, mobility, tourism, trade and economic activity in the strategically important region. (KNO)
