Gadkari Hails Zojila Tunnel Breakthrough as Gateway to Year-Round Kashmir-Ladakh Connectivity

2 minutes read

NEWS AGENCY KASHMIR NEWS TRUST #KNT

Minamarg, June 9, KNT: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday witnessed the historic breakthrough of the main tunnel at the eastern portal of the Zojila Tunnel Project in Minamarg, describing the milestone as a major step toward achieving year-round connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

The breakthrough marks a significant engineering achievement in one of India’s most ambitious mountain infrastructure projects and brings the nearly 14-kilometer tunnel closer to completion.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Members of Parliament, public representatives, senior officials and other dignitaries attended the event, while Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Kavinder Gupta joined virtually and lauded the achievement.

Built between Baltal and Minamarg on National Highway-1 at an estimated cost of around ₹6,800 crore, the bi-directional tunnel is being constructed at elevations ranging from 2,900 to 3,310 meters. Once completed, it will provide all-weather connectivity across the Zojila Pass, which frequently remains cut off during winter because of heavy snowfall and avalanches.

Addressing the gathering, Gadkari said the tunnel would serve as a gateway to development and not merely a transportation project. He said travel time between Sonamarg and Minamarg would be reduced from nearly two hours to about 30 minutes, improving mobility while reducing fuel consumption, weather-related disruptions and accident risks.

The Union Minister said the project would boost tourism, facilitate trade, improve access to remote regions and strengthen connectivity to border areas. He added that year-round access would significantly enhance the movement of troops, equipment and supplies, strengthening national security preparedness.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the tunnel’s impact would be felt most by the people of the region. He said easier access to educational institutions, healthcare facilities and economic opportunities would substantially improve the quality of life for residents of remote areas.

Gadkari highlighted that the tunnel will be equipped with advanced safety systems, including modern ventilation, automatic fire detection mechanisms, CCTV surveillance and pedestrian cross-passages. The project also includes avalanche protection structures, snow galleries, bridges, culverts and approach roads designed to withstand harsh Himalayan conditions.

The Minister further said infrastructure projects worth approximately ₹1.35 lakh crore are either completed, under construction or planned across Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted several strategic road corridors, including the Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar route, Jammu-Akhnoor-Poonch corridor, Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri highway and the proposed Katra-Srinagar high-speed corridor.

He also referred to tunnel projects planned on the Manali-Leh route and major connectivity initiatives in Ladakh, including the Kargil-Zanskar-Padum highway and proposed Fatu-La and Kela Pass tunnels.

Calling the breakthrough symbolic of a “New India,” Gadkari said the country was transforming geographical challenges into opportunities for development, connectivity and economic growth. [KNT]