SRINAGAR, Apr 9: The work on the strategic Zojila tunnel – an all-weather connection between the Kashmir valley and the Ladakh region — is going on at a rapid pace and over 40 % of the drilling has been completed, the construction company said on Sunday.The company said it is hopeful of completing the project by December 2026.The tunnel project – through the mighty Zojila Pass at an altitude of 11,578 feet on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National highway – is of strategic importance as the highway remains closed during winters due to heavy snowfall, cutting off Ladakh region from Kashmir.The single-tube Zojila tunnel – from Baltal, in the Ganderbal district of central Kashmir, to Minimarg, in Drass town of Kargil district of Ladakh, is 13 km long with an approach road of 18 km.“This project is a huge game changer by the government of India. The total length of the project from Sonamarg to Minimarg is 31 km. From Sonamarg to Baltal, it is 18 km, and then the main tunnel from Baltal to Minimarg which is 13 km long. The work is going on at a rapid pace on both the projects,” Project Head, Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited Harpal Singh said here.MEIL is constructing the tunnel.Singh said the work had to be stopped for two months in the winter because of back-to-back avalanches in January in which two persons were killed.About 38 pieces of equipment of the construction company were buried under the snow which have not yet been retrieved.“It was a temporary setback,” Singh said, adding, “I am hopeful that the whole project will be completed by December 2026”.Singh said out of the 13 km long tunnel, a total of 6 km cutting has been done – three km from this side and the rest from the other end. “The remaining work will be completed in time,” he said.
