Beyond Zojila, Centre Starts Work on Fotu La Tunnel For All-Weather Corridor Plan For Ladakh | Exclusive
Beyond Zojila, Centre Starts Work on Fotu La Tunnel For All-Weather Corridor Plan For Ladakh | Exclusive Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: June 04
Beyond Zojila, Centre Starts Work on Fotu La Tunnel For All-Weather Corridor Plan For Ladakh | Exclusive Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: June 04, 2026, 12:23 IST The breakthrough ceremony at the strategically important Zojila tunnel will also be held next week, marking a major milestone for the 13.15-km-long tunnel Rapid Read Fotu La is the highest point on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh highway, standing at altitude of almost 4,108 metres. (News18) The Centre’s push to transform Ladakh into an all-weather connected region has taken another significant step forward, with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways initiating the bidding process for the construction of twin uni-directional tunnels across the strategically important Fotu La Pass on Highway-1. The breakthrough ceremony at the strategically important Zojila tunnel will also be held next week, marking a major milestone for the 13.15-km-long tunnel. Together, the Rs 7000-crore worth Zojila Tunnel and the Fotu La Pass Tunnel will turn J&K and Ladakh’s Highway-1 into an all-weather strategic corridor. In May this year, the government had allocated a budget for the Fotu La Tunnel. The project, estimated to cost Rs 824.12 crore and with a three-year completion deadline, involves the construction of twin tunnels of nearly two kilometres each, along with approach roads, taking the total project length to 2.65 kilometres.
The significance of the Fotu La tunnel lies in its location. Fotu La is the highest point on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh highway, standing at altitude of almost 4,108 metres. The pass forms a crucial segment of NH-1, the only major road artery connecting Srinagar to Kargil and Leh. For decades, this stretch has remained one of the most challenging portions of the route, with extreme weather, heavy snowfall and treacherous driving conditions frequently disrupting movement, officials say. Now, a three-year deadline has been set to complete the tunnel. Every winter, snow accumulation at Fotu La can reach between five and ten feet, a document reviewed by CNN-News18 says. Ice formation on road surfaces creates dangerous driving conditions, increasing the risk of accidents and forcing authorities into constant snow-clearance operations. The steep gradients and sharp turns associated with mountain roads at such high altitudes further add to the challenge. During periods of intense snowfall or severe weather, traffic movement comes to a halt altogether. The proposed tunnel seeks to address these vulnerabilities by taking traffic beneath the mountain rather than over it.
By bypassing the exposed ridge section of the pass, the tunnel will reduce dependence on weather conditions and significantly improve the reliability of one of Ladakh’s important road links. The project is expected to shorten the road distance across the pass and improve travel efficiency between Leh and Kargil. The importance of the project extends far beyond civilian convenience as it on one of India’s most critical strategic roads. It is extensively used for the movement of military personnel, equipment, fuel, rations and supplies destined for forward deployments in Ladakh region. Since the military standoff with China in Eastern Ladakh in 2020, the importance of robust and uninterrupted connectivity to the region has become even more apparent. Infrastructure projects that reduce weather-related disruptions and improve logistics capacity are increasingly viewed through a national security lens. Zojila Tunnel, currently under construction between Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, will also see a breakthrough next week ahead of the 2028 deadline to operationalise this longest tunnel of Asia. The long-term objective of the government is clear: to progressively eliminate weather-induced bottlenecks across the Srinagar-Leh corridor and create a dependable, year-round transportation network capable of supporting civilian mobility, economic development and military requirements simultaneously.
News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Aman Sharma Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Minister... Read More Location: Ladakh, India, India First Published: June 04, 2026, 08:07 IST News india Beyond Zojila, Centre Starts Work on Fotu La Tunnel For All-Weather Corridor Plan For Ladakh | Exclusive Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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