Minimarg: Zojila Tunnel saw the light of the day on Tuesday after a breakthrough was achieved through a blast as one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the country, the world's longest single-tube bi-directional bypass at a record height, nears completion.
"Breakthrough in the 2.5 metre distance in the tunnel has been successfully achieved," officials said.
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| Live from Breakthrough Ceremony of the Zojila Tunnel & Press Conference #ZojilaTunnel #AllWeatherRoad #TunnelBreakthrough #PragatiKaHighway #GatiShakti #BuildingTheNation https://t.co/MiKC4jBdXZ
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) June 9, 2026
The breakthrough has brought the decades-old dream of all-weather connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh closer to reality.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari pressed the remote button, blasting the breakthrough site near the East Portal of the tunnel at Minimarg in Ladakh Union Territory.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were also present.
In Photos | Zojila Tunnel Poised for Historic Breakthrough
— Kashmir Observer® (@kashmirobserver) June 9, 2026
Security personnel stand guard outside the Zojila Tunnel in Minamarg ahead of the landmark breakthrough ceremony of the ₹6,500-crore project. Set to provide all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh, the… pic.twitter.com/PkM4tqDIC3
#WATCH | Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari triggers the Zoji-La tunnel final breakthrough. The strategically significant 13.15-kilometre Zoji-La Tunnel will link Jammu and Kashmir with Ladakh
— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2026
This marks a major milestone in India's infrastructure history… pic.twitter.com/dbd9KzO4vF
Officials of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) said the breakthrough is six months ahead of schedule.
The officials said the tunnel is likely to be thrown open for public in February 2028.
After the breakthrough, the civil works will take another 7-8 months and then the electrical works will begin, they said.
In Photos | Gadkari, LG Manoj Sinha Mark Historic Zojila Tunnel Breakthrough
— Kashmir Observer® (@kashmirobserver) June 9, 2026
Minamarg, Jammu & Kashmir: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha , J&K CM, Omar Abdullah attended the breakthrough ceremony of the Zojila… pic.twitter.com/cVt1sXHvYH
The 13.153-km Zojila Tunnel, the world’s longest single-tube bi-directional road tunnel at the highest altitude, and its final breakthrough will be a historic milestone in India’s infrastructure history.
— ANI (@ANI) June 7, 2026
Located in the Zojila region between Baltal (Sonamarg) and Meenamarg (Drass… pic.twitter.com/CUstVp7zj0
As of now, about 85 per cent of the total work has been completed, Authority Engineer for the project, Yousef Es'haghpour Rahimabadi, told PTI here.
The tunnel -- 9.5 metre wide, 7.57 metre high, 13.153 km long -- is a horseshoe-shaped single-tube, a two-lane road tunnel built at the height of around 11,578 feet above sea level.
The geostrategically important tunnel on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway will provide year-round, weather-proof connectivity to Ladakh, and reduce the earlier 1-1.5 hours travel time to just a 15-minute drive, officials said.
#WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir: Yusuf, the Authority Engineer for the Zojila Project, representing ICT AIAPL, says, "I am from Iran. I am proud of it. I can say I am proud that about 80% of the project is already finished; the remaining 20% might take another two years or so to… https://t.co/Iu3LRpqUkn pic.twitter.com/6GgRcgbB9z
— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2026
#WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir | Tourists enjoy the pleasant weather at Sonamarg
— ANI (@ANI) June 8, 2026
A tourist says, "The weather, people's behaviour, hospitality and food here are major sources of attraction for us..."
On the bi-directional Zojila tunnel, he says, "Zojila used to be a tough terrain… pic.twitter.com/Ai9TOCOsZK
The tunnel from Baltal in the Ganderbal district of central Kashmir to Minimarg in Drass district of the Union Territory of Ladakh has an 18-km approach road.
Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL), the agency which is executing the project, used the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) to pierce through the Himalayas and navigate the fragile geology. The entire project is 31-km-long, including the approach road and bridges, stretching from Sonmarg to Minimarg.
Once operational, the tunnel would enhance both civilian and military mobility across the treacherous Zojila Pass that is usually rendered shut for traffic for three winter months due to heavy snowfall.
(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)