Zojila Tunnel Project Reaches Milestone with Final Excavation Breakthrough

The Event

On June 9, 2026, the construction team at the strategic Zojila Tunnel project successfully achieved the final excavation breakthrough. The milestone was marked by a final blast triggered at the eastern portal in Minamarg, Ladakh, in the presence of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari. This blast officially connected the two ends of the main tunnel, completing the challenging excavation phase of the project.

Background & Context

The Zojila Pass, situated at a high altitude on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway (NH-1), has historically been a major bottleneck for transport. Due to heavy snowfall, avalanches, and landslides, the pass remains closed for four to five months every winter. This seasonal closure isolates the Ladakh region from Kashmir and the rest of India, severely impacting trade, tourism, and military logistics. To solve this, the Government of India approved the construction of the Zojila Tunnel to guarantee all-weather connectivity. The project is being executed by Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) under the supervision of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).

Key Statistics

• Total Length of Main Tunnel: 13.15 kilometers, making it one of the longest road tunnels in India and the longest bi-directional road tunnel in Asia.
• Operating Altitude: 11,578 feet (3,529 meters) above sea level.
• Travel Time Reduction: Travel time across the Zojila Pass will drop from 3 to 3.5 hours down to just 15 to 20 minutes once the tunnel opens.
• Tunnel Dimensions: A horseshoe-shaped, single-tube, bi-directional path that is 9.5 meters wide and 7.57 meters high.
• Project Completion Target: Full commissioning of the tunnel is projected for February 2028.

Static GK & Related Facts

• Tunnelling Method: The project utilizes the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), a modern system of tunnel design and construction where the surrounding rock mass acts as the primary support, supported by shotcrete and rock bolts.
• Zojila Pass Elevation: The pass stands at an elevation of 11,575 feet (3,528 meters) in the Kargil district of Ladakh, linking Kashmir to Ladakh.
• NHIDCL: Formed in 2014, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited is a fully owned company of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, tasked with upgrading infrastructure in border areas.
• Other Notable Himalayan Tunnels:
  • Atal Tunnel: 9.02 km long, located in Himachal Pradesh (Rohtang Pass) at over 10,000 feet, connecting Manali to Lahaul-Spiti.
  • Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel (Chenani-Nashri): 9.28 km long, located in Jammu & Kashmir on NH-44.