Final Countdown: $4,500 Cr. Zojila Tunnel Set for April Breakthrough

Excavation work on the 13-km Zojila Tunnel — a vital all-weather link to Ladakh — is nearing completion, with the final breakthrough expected by April next year.

The ₹4,500-crore project, slated for completion in 2028, is being constructed beneath the 11,500-ft Zojila Pass, which remains snowbound for nearly five months each year, leaving residents and the armed forces heavily dependent on air travel. Ladakh Chief Secretary Pawan Kotwal described the tunnel as one of the region’s longest and most challenging, noting the severe hardships faced by the local population. Construction began in 2020 and gained momentum in 2021, encompassing two components: the approach stretch and the main tunnel. Officials said the approach segment — including the access road, bridges, two smaller tunnels and avalanche-protection structures — is already complete, while concrete lining has started on the main tunnel.

During a site review, officials reported that about 12 km of the tunnel has been excavated, with roughly 1,200 metres remaining. They outlined advanced safety and ventilation systems and explained that excavation speed fluctuates with the changing rock strata; on average, 2.5–3 metres are dug each day, followed by stabilisation. With lining underway and approach structures finished, the Zojila Tunnel is set to dramatically improve connectivity and bolster the Army’s rapid deployment capability along the borders with Pakistan and China.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.