Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday, 9 June performed the breakthrough blast at the Zojila Tunnel in Jammu & Kashmir, announcing that the project would be completed at ₹7,000 crore — a saving of ₹5,000 crore against the originally estimated ₹12,000 crore. The milestone marks a significant step toward year-round connectivity between Srinagar and Ladakh, a region that has historically remained cut off for nearly six months each year due to heavy snowfall.

A Personal Mission Turned National Infrastructure Milestone

Gadkari described the tunnel as both a national priority and a personal commitment. 'It is going to be a state-of-the-art tunnel as it has been built on world-class safety standards,' he said at the breakthrough ceremony. 'I am happy that it is a lifeline for Ladakh and J&K. It is situated at around 3,000 metres above sea level, and the temperature often drops to minus 4 degrees Celsius even as our workers and engineers continued to work on the tunnel.'

The minister recalled that his resolve to build the tunnel dated to his tenure as BJP president, when local residents told him the region was 'virtually closed for six months.' When Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power and Gadkari was given charge of the road transport ministry, he said he moved quickly to make the tunnel a reality.

Cost Savings and Tendering Challenges

The project's road to approval was far from smooth. Gadkari revealed that the tendering process was attempted four times without success before he personally signed the allotment on the fifth attempt at ₹12,000 crore. The final outlay, however, is now projected at just ₹7,000 crore, delivering a ₹5,000 crore saving to the exchequer. He also credited the managing directors of the private construction company involved and of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) for making the project viable. Notably, 80 per cent of the workforce engaged in construction belongs to the local region — a detail Gadkari highlighted as a point of pride.

New Projects Announced for Ladakh and J&K

Beyond the Zojila Tunnel, Gadkari used the occasion to announce a slate of new infrastructure projects for the region. These include a ₹1,000 crore Leh bypass, with work set to begin within six months, which will allow vehicles arriving from Manali and Srinagar to bypass Leh town entirely. He also announced two additional tunnels and multiple road projects in Ladakh.

For Jammu & Kashmir, Gadkari announced the four-laning of the Srinagar-Sonmarg road at a cost of ₹1,500 crore, along with corridor projects covering Katra-Srinagar, Kishtwar-Anantnag, and the Jammu-Akhnoor route.

Senior Officials Present at the Ceremony

J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah accompanied Gadkari during the inspection and the breakthrough operation, underscoring the political significance of the milestone for both the Union Territory and the Centre.

With the Zojila Tunnel on track for completion, Ladakh's long-standing connectivity challenge is set to see a structural resolution — one that could transform trade, tourism, and strategic access in one of India's most critical border regions.