Why in News?
The Zojila Tunnel achieved historic breakthrough on June 9, 2026 – the day the two tunnel drives met under the Zojila Pass. This milestone makes it one of India's most critical infrastructure projects nearing completion, providing all-weather connectivity between Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Geographical & Structural Specs
- Record Altitude: Constructed at a staggering height of 11,578 feet (nearly 3,000 metres) above sea level beneath the treacherous Zojila Pass.
- Asia's Longest: Set to become Asia's longest high-altitude highway tunnel and the world's longest single-tube bi-directional road tunnel.
- Core Dimensions: Measures 13.153 kilometers in core length, operating as a 7.57-metre-high horseshoe-shaped, two-lane tunnel.
- Full Corridor Length: The entire project span encompasses 30.18 km, which features the main tunnel paired with 17.03 km of fortified approach roads, bridges, and catch tunnels.
Direct Connectivity & Economic Impact
- All-Weather Lifeline: Replaces the seasonally blocked highway route across the Zojila Pass, which traditionally closes for 5 to 6 months each winter due to heavy snowfall and avalanches.
- Srinagar-Ladakh Link: Establishes continuous, year-round surface transit between the Kashmir Valley (Srinagar) and Ladakh (Kargil and Leh).
- Drastic Travel Reduction: Reduces the transit time required to cross the challenging Zojila Pass section from over three and a half hours down to just 15 minutes.
- Socio-Economic Growth: Prevents severe weather-driven isolation, allowing a smooth supply flow of food, fuel, and essential medicines while bolstering regional Himalayan tourism.
Engineering and Safety Features
- Executing Agency: Developed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and constructed by Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited (MEIL).
- Project Cost: Built with a total revised layout estimated at ₹6,809.69 crore.
- Advanced Technology: Built using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), which is specifically designed to navigate highly fragile Himalayan rock conditions and manage underground water ingress.
- Smart Tunnel Features: Outfitted with a fully transverse ventilation system, uninterrupted power supply, emergency lighting, and CCTV tracking.
- Emergency Infrastructure: Safety protocols incorporate emergency telephone booths every 125 meters, pedestrian cross-passages every 250 meters, and motorable cross-laybys every 750 meters.
Project Timeline & Delays
- Inception: Construction originally commenced under Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) mode in October 2020.
- Revised Deadline: While excavation is virtually finished, technical fitting, concrete lining, and safety installations have pushed the final operational completion target to February 2028.
- Delay Factors: The timeline shifted from its initial 2026 target due to interruptions from the Covid-19 pandemic, localized cloudbursts, severe alpine winter hazards, and security disruptions.
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