• Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in a written reply in the Lok Sabha informed that the Zojila Tunnel Project has a scheduled completion date of September 29, 2026. 

• Zojila Tunnel Project consists of construction of a tunnel of 13.153 km and approach roads to tunnel of length 17.030 km, totaling a total length of 30.18 km. 

• The total project cost is Rs 6,809.69 crore. 

• The physical progress of the project as on date is 52.13 per cent.

• The project aims to enhance connectivity between Srinagar and Leh by providing all-weather road access.

• This project is significant as it will improve transportation in the region and is expected to have a positive impact on the local economy and strategic mobility.

Highlights of the project:

• Zojila is a significant high mountain pass in the Kargil district of Ladakh, serving as a crucial link between Leh and Srinagar. 

• Zojila Pass is situated at an altitude of 11,578 feet on the 434-km Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway.

• Known as the “Mountain Pass of Blizzards”, it experiences heavy snowfall during winter, which often leads to its closure and cuts off the Ladakh region from Kashmir.

• The Zojila Tunnel Project, launched in 2018, aims to address this issue by constructing Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel. 

• This tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar, Kargil, and Leh, enhancing strategic mobility and regional connectivity.

• Once completed, the tunnel would reduce the travel time from three hours to 15 minutes with avalanche-free travel on the Srinagar-Leh section of NH1.

• It will also benefit Army’s defence operations in the strategic region.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)