Ladakh (India), June 9: The Zoji La tunnel has achieved a significant milestone today with the final breakthrough. The breakthrough has brought the decades-old dream of all-weather connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh closer to reality.
Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari pressed the remote button, blasting the breakthrough site near the east portal of the tunnel at Minimarg in Ladakh.
The Zoji-La Tunnel is among the country’s most strategically significant road projects.
This breakthrough represents a key stage in the large-scale infrastructure development, under which the 13.15-kilometre-long Zoji-La tunnel is being constructed beneath the Zoji-La Pass.
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The project is considered crucial for ensuring all-weather road connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, as the existing highway remains closed for extended periods during winter due to heavy snowfall and harsh weather conditions.
Once completed, the tunnel will enable year-round connectivity. The final breakthrough is being seen as a significant engineering achievement, with strong implications for defence logistics, regional connectivity, tourism, and economic development.
Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were also present on the occasion. Officials described the development as a historic moment in the country's infrastructure journey, bringing the long-awaited dream of all-weather connectivity in the region closer to reality.
Beyond improving civilian mobility, the tunnel is expected to enhance freight movement, boost tourism, and improve access to remote regions that remain cut off for long periods during winter.
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With the breakthrough completed, focus will now shift to the remaining construction and finishing works required to make the tunnel fully operational.
Ends.
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