Minamarg:: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday described the Zojila Tunnel as a future lifeline for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, saying the landmark infrastructure project will transform connectivity, strengthen supply chains, boost tourism and enhance national security in the region.
The Lieutenant Governor was speaking at the breakthrough ceremony of the Zojila Tunnel, where he joined Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. The event marked a major milestone in the construction of the strategically important tunnel connecting the Kashmir Valley with Ladakh.
Congratulating the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Sinha said the project had become possible under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the efforts of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
“Today is undoubtedly a historic day. The Zojila Tunnel will emerge as a lifeline for the region, strengthening supply chains, boosting tourism and providing vital strategic support to our Armed Forces,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor said the tunnel would usher in a new era of year-round connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh, ensuring safer travel, reducing travel time and generating significant fuel savings.
He expressed appreciation for the engineers, officials and workers involved in the project, acknowledging their efforts in challenging weather conditions at high altitude.
“Connectivity drives development and brings economic prosperity. Over the last twelve years, unprecedented work has been done across the country in road, rail and air connectivity. Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have witnessed remarkable improvements in infrastructure,” Sinha said.
He said the large-scale infrastructure projects underway in the two Union Territories would not only strengthen trade and tourism but also significantly improve national security, particularly in border areas.
Expressing hope for the early completion of the project, Sinha said the tunnel would greatly benefit residents as well as pilgrims visiting the Amarnath shrine. He noted that the Zojila Tunnel, together with other major road projects, would provide safer and more reliable access to the region throughout the year.
Built at an estimated cost of around ₹6,800 crore, the approximately 14-kilometre-long bi-directional tunnel is being constructed at elevations ranging from 2,900 metres to 3,310 metres above sea level. Considered one of the most challenging mountain infrastructure projects in the world, the tunnel is equipped with advanced safety features including a modern ventilation system, automatic fire detection mechanisms, CCTV surveillance and emergency cross-passages.
The project also includes approach roads, bridges, culverts, snow galleries, avalanche protection structures and other safety measures. Upon completion, the tunnel is expected to reduce travel time between Sonamarg and Minamarg from nearly two hours to around thirty minutes, ensuring all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh.
