Union minister Nitin Gadkari will attend the breakthrough ceremony of the strategically important Zojila tunnel on June 9.
The 13.15km tunnel, which cuts through the Zojila Pass on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway, will link Baltal in Ganderbal district in Kashmir with Minamarg in Kargil, Ladakh, reducing over three hours journey to just 15 minutes.
The total sanctioned cost of the project stands at ₹6,808.69 crore.
However, when asked whether the entire road project, including approach roads, ventilation systems would be commissioned before the February 2028 deadline, the official declined to provide further details.
The Zojila tunnel will be India's longest road tunnel and Asia's longest bi-directional tunnel at an altitude of 11,578 feet.
