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Zojila Tunnel in J&K set for final breakthrough on June 9
The 13.15-kilometre Zojila Tunnel is set to reach its final breakthrough on June 9, marking a significant milestone in India’s infrastructure development by advancing all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh.
Located between Baltal (Sonamarg) and Meenamarg (Drass and Kargil) in the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, the tunnel will become the world’s longest single-tube bi-directional road tunnel at the highest altitude.
The project aims to provide uninterrupted connectivity across one of India’s most challenging Himalayan corridors, which is frequently cut off during winters due to heavy snowfall, avalanches, and severe weather.
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Situated approximately 11,578 feet above sea level, it represents a major engineering achievement in India’s mountain infrastructure sector.
The main tunnel starts at the West Portal in Baltal and ends at the East Portal in Meenamarg, with excavation progressing from both ends. The final breakthrough will complete the critical excavation phase and the most demanding aspect of the underground works in difficult terrain.
Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) is executing the project for the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). Construction employs the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), which is well suited to the fragile Himalayan geology and varying rock conditions.
NATM utilises sequential excavation with immediate support measures such as shotcrete and rock bolting, alongside continuous geotechnical monitoring, enabling adaptive responses to changing ground conditions.
This method has been vital in maintaining stability, safety, and progress in the challenging environment.
Besides the main tunnel, the project includes connecting highways, bridges, protective structures, cut-and-cover sections, snow protection installations, and the Nilgrar twin tunnels, forming a comprehensive corridor development.
Upon completion, the tunnel will assure year-round connectivity between Srinagar and Ladakh, enhancing access to Drass, Kargil, Leh, and neighbouring areas. It will strengthen mobility, logistics reliability, and strategic access in this sensitive border region.
The Zojila Tunnel holds significant socio-economic and strategic importance, expected to transform regional transport, improve the movement of people and goods, reduce seasonal isolation, and promote economic activity, tourism, and essential services across the region.
At the national level, the tunnel will reinforce operational mobility and logistics in a strategically critical frontier corridor, serving as both an infrastructure and security asset.
The construction has faced exceptional challenges including fragile geology, sensitive rock formations, avalanche-prone terrain, and harsh winters.
Despite these, the project exemplifies a transformative advancement in Himalayan transport infrastructure and underscores India’s growing expertise in complex high-altitude tunnel engineering.
This final breakthrough is regarded as a defining phase of the Zojila Tunnel Project, demonstrating successful completion of one of the country’s most complex transport infrastructure efforts in a hostile environment.
With excavation completed, the tunnel draws closer to delivering its long-anticipated goal of seamless all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh, promising lasting benefits in mobility, economic integration, and strategic resilience.
Construction commenced on October 1, 2020, with the first blasting in the Nilgrar Tunnel occurring on October 14, 2020. Part one of the project—covering approach roads, bridges, Nilgrar twin tunnels, cut-and-cover works, and snow gallery components—was finished on March 15, 2025.
The entire project spans 30.894 kilometres, which includes the tunnel roads and bridges, with the main Zojila tunnel measuring 13.153 kilometres.
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As of April 2026, the project has achieved 10 million safe man-hours, highlighting key safety milestones during construction.
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari is scheduled to initiate the breakthrough blast on June 9 at the strategically important Zojila Tunnel, which will link Jammu and Kashmir with Ladakh.