Minimarg: The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) is set to achieve a major milestone in the construction of the strategically important Zojila Tunnel, with excavation work crossing the 13-kilometre mark on Tuesday.
Being built at a cost of around Rs 6,500 crore, the tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Ladakh, ending the long-standing challenge of seasonal road closures caused by heavy snowfall at the Zojila Pass.
The project, regarded as one of India’s most significant infrastructure ventures in the Himalayan region, is expected to ensure uninterrupted transportation, enhance defence logistics, boost tourism and accelerate economic development in Ladakh and the Kashmir Valley.
Speaking on the occasion, NHIDCL Road and Tunnel Projects Authority Engineer Yousef Eshaghpour described the tunnel as an iconic project and a matter of national pride.
“It is an iconic project and a national pride. It is Asia’s longest bidirectional single-tube tunnel at this altitude. The tunnel is being constructed at a height of nearly 11,000 feet, which makes it a unique engineering achievement,” he said.
Highlighting the challenges posed by the region’s harsh climate, Eshaghpour said temperatures in winter often plunge to minus 35 degrees Celsius, while heavy snowfall forces the closure of the Srinagar-Ladakh highway for more than four and a half months every year.
“During winter, we face severe difficulties due to heavy snowfall, which shuts down the road. This tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity and significantly improve the lives of people living in the region. It will ensure reliable road access between Kashmir and Ladakh throughout the year,” he added.
Once completed, the Zojila Tunnel is expected to drastically reduce travel disruptions, improve accessibility to remote areas and strengthen connectivity between the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The high-altitude tunnel project is considered one of the most challenging engineering works currently underway in the country due to its difficult terrain, extreme weather conditions and strategic importance.
NHIDCL Achieves Major Breakthrough in Rs 6,500-Crore Zojila Tunnel Project
