Nitin Gadkari Inspects Zojila Tunnel, Plans Early Inauguration Of Asia's Longest Road Tunnel To Boost Kashmir Tourism

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari inspected the 14-kilometre-long Zojila Tunnel, which connects Kashmir with Ladakh, on Monday (10 April).

Zojila tunnel is located at an altitude of about 3,000 metres, situated under the Zojila Pass.

The tunnel will connect Srinagar and Leh through Dras and Kargil. The passage will begin at Sonmarg in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and terminate at Minamarg, in Ladakh.

The tunnel is estimated to cost Rs 7,000 crore. Thanks to expert support and international consultations, the project's cost was slashed by Rs 5,000 crore from its original estimate of Rs 12,000 crore.

Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) has constructed a horseshoe-shaped tunnel under Zojila, spanning 13.14 km in length.

The tunnel connects Ganderbal in Kashmir and Drass town in Kargil district of Ladakh, and features four culverts and four Nilgrar tunnels.

Currently, 28 per cent of the tunnel has been completed and when finished, it will significantly reduce travel time from over an hour to just 20 minutes. Now the average travel time to cross the Zojila Pass is around three hours.

Importance Of Zojila Tunnel

Gadkari stated that the Asia's longest tunnel's strategic significance will enable an all-weather road from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

As India and China's troops remain in a standoff in Ladakh since the Galwan incident last year, India has decided to increase the pace of their work and match China's build-up along the Line of Actual Control in the region.

Sonamarg is a crucial route for troops to reach Ladakh, however, the region's Zojila Pass becomes risky due to unpredictable avalanches and landslides, making it impassable for more than three months in winter.

In order to ensure uninterrupted movement of goods and armed forces in emergencies, the construction of a tunnel is necessary, providing a year-round solution.

The Union Minister said the project, once completed, would develop tourism in the area.

"With the construction of this tunnel, tourism will increase by 2-3 times, and employment opportunities will also grow in Jammu and Kashmir," said Gadkari as quoted by news agency ANI.

Gadkari plans to open the tunnel earlier than the 2026 deadline by opening a part of the project sooner than planned.

Foundation of this historic project was done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2018.