Why is the Zojila tunnel a game changer? | Explains

Published 13 June 2026 · india

The story so far The world’s longest high-altitude tunnel, spanning 13.14 kilometres at an altitude of 11,578 feet, achieved a breakthrough on June 9, 2026

The story so far The world’s longest high-altitude tunnel, spanning 13.14 kilometres at an altitude of 11,578 feet, achieved a breakthrough on June 9, 2026. Built at a cost of ₹6,800 crore, the Zojila tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh, traversing a region that was long considered to be formidable in the Himalayas. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, who pressed the blast button for the 2.5 metre-long last leg, termed the breakthrough “a historic day for India’s infrastructure development and a milestone in India’s technical expertise, engineering prowess, and indomitable resolve”. What makes the Zojila tunnel an engineering marvel? Zojila tunnel is India’s first longest single-tube bi-directional tunnel and an engineering marvel for several reasons. The underground works were highly challenging due to the difficult terrain. The western Himalayan range around the Zojila Pass has been daunting for engineers and planners, with the fragile geology, sensitive rock formations, avalanche-prone terrain, and harsh winter conditions all complicating the execution of the project. The Zojila tunnel connects Sonamarg’s Baltal in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district with Meenamarg in Ladakh’s Drass district. To ensure safe passage up to the mouth of the Zojila tunnel at Baltal, additional roadways, three bridges, and two tunnels were constructed over a stretch of 31 km in Sonamarg.

These were designed to withstand the vagaries of winter, as avalanches and snow slides are often reported in the area. It is a combined system of tunnels and roadways that forms a comprehensive corridor between the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The tunnel is equipped with catch dams, protection walls, and deflector dams over a 6-km stretch for protection from snowstorms. It will have automatic and emergency lighting, emergency phone, message signalling, and radio to ensure travellers’ safety. Why is this a memorable project for engineers? The tunnel was dug in extreme weather conditions, with temperatures dropping to minus 20 degrees Celsius on the Kashmir side and minus 30 degrees Celsius on the Drass side. Official estimates suggested that extreme weather conditions were prevalent for nearly 100 days a year. Then, there were avalanche risks: five major avalanches left two workers dead and over 172 workers stranded and later rescued. Snow accumulation was dealt with by a fleet of small and large snow blowers. Officials said the rock classification also changed 67 times across the 13-km stretch, “shifting constantly between good and poor formations.” Why is the tunnel significant for strategic connectivity? India has witnessed repeated military confrontations with China and Pakistan since 1947, particularly in the regions of Ladakh and Kashmir, most notably in 1962 and 1999.