Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari attended the breakthrough ceremony at the Zojila Tunnel Eastern Portal on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, marking a significant construction milestone on the 14.2-kilometre all-weather tunnel that will permanently link Srinagar and Leh through the Zojila Pass on National Highway 1. The Minister livestreamed the event and addressed a press conference at the site, sharing the development under the hashtags #ZojilaTunnel, #AllWeatherRoad, and #PragatiKaHighway.

Context

The Zojila Tunnel is designed to replace the existing Zojila Pass route, which remains snowbound and impassable for several months each year, cutting off Ladakh from the Kashmir Valley. The eastern portal breakthrough represents the moment tunnelling machinery punches through from one side, a critical engineering milestone before final lining, mechanical and electrical works can begin. Minister Gadkari's presence at the site underscores the strategic and political weight the government attaches to this project.

The tunnel runs beneath one of the most challenging high-altitude terrains in the world, at elevations exceeding 3,500 metres, and has required specialised boring equipment and round-the-clock construction schedules to navigate extreme geological conditions.

Policy Backdrop

Cabinet approval for the Zojila Tunnel was granted in 2018, and construction commenced the same year. The project sits within the broader Bharatmala Pariyojana programme, India's flagship national highway development initiative, and is aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan launched in 2021 for integrated, multi-modal infrastructure development.

Gati Shakti specifically emphasises border and strategic connectivity, and the Zojila corridor — which also includes the Z-Morh Tunnel providing all-weather access to Sonamarg — is one of its highest-priority western Himalayan projects. India has accelerated tunnel and highway construction in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in recent years, reducing dependence on mountain passes vulnerable to weather and geopolitical pressure.

Stakeholders and Impact

The tunnel's completion will directly benefit Ladakh's civilian population, which currently faces months of isolation each winter when the Zojila Pass closes. Supply chains for essential goods, medicines, and fuel — currently dependent on the Manali-Leh highway or costly air transport — will gain a reliable year-round alternative.

For India's defence forces, the tunnel represents a strategic asset, enabling rapid troop and equipment movement to the Line of Actual Control regardless of weather or season. The tourism economy of both Kashmir and Ladakh is also expected to benefit significantly from uninterrupted connectivity.

What's Next

Following the eastern portal breakthrough, construction teams will move into the final phases of tunnel lining, waterproofing, and installation of mechanical and electrical systems including ventilation, lighting, and safety infrastructure. Integration with the Z-Morh Tunnel on the same NH-1 corridor remains a key milestone for completing fully seamless all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Leh.

Minister Gadkari's on-site press conference is expected to provide a detailed project timeline and a formal update on the remaining works, signalling the government's intent to push the project toward commissioning in the coming phases.