Inside India’s most ‘impossible’ mega project 13.153-km single-tube bi-directional Zojila Tunnel

Jun 09, 2026

Jammu and Kashmir: Jun 9, 2026: Nitin Gadkari will trigger the Zojila Tunnel breakthrough blast on June 9, marking a historic milestone. The 13.15-km Zojila Tunnel breakthrough brings India closer to all-weather Kashmir-Ladakh connectivity. Zojila Tunnel links Baltal (Sonamarg) with Meenamarg (Drass-Kargil) across the Himalayas. At 13.153 km, it will be the world's longest single-tube bi-directional road tunnel at this altitude. The tunnel is located at an elevation of about 11,578 feet above sea level in the Himalayas. The project overcomes one of India's most difficult mountain corridors affected by extreme weather. The project uses the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) suited to fragile Himalayan geology.The tunnel will ensure 365-day road connectivity between Srinagar, Ladakh and will improve access to Drass, Kargil, Leh. It will strengthen logistics, mobility, supply reliability in the border areas and will enhance strategic military access in a sensitive zone. The project achieved 10 million safe man-hours by April 2026, highlighting strong safety standards. Zojila Tunnel is among India's most significant engineering achievements in mountain infrastructure