For decades, Ladakh residents faced isolation during winter due to snow-sealed roads and rationed supplies. A breakthrough blast at the East Portal of the Zojila tunnel has moved closer to ending this reality. The 13-km passage beneath the Zojila Pass is now physically linked, but civil work, ventilation, electrical installation, and safety systems need to be installed.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said, 'This tunnel is state-of-art, constructed with world-class safety standards, and will provide all-weather connectivity to Ladakh.'
The tunnel is a horseshoe-shaped, two-lane stretch that runs 13.1 km beneath the Zojila Pass at approximately 11,578 feet above sea level. It is expected to open to the public in February 2028, extending the all-weather road corridor between Srinagar and Leh.
