Indian engineers have completed the final rock section in the Zojila tunnel on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in providing all-weather access to the frontier Ladakh region with China. This strategic tunnel is part of India’s broader infrastructure push aimed at improving connectivity between Srinagar and Leh during winter months when heavy snowfall often blocks roads.
India’s Minister of Roads, Nitin Gadkari, described the tunnel as a “lifeline,” noting its importance in facilitating trade, troop movements, and supplies from India’s lowland plains to the icy border zones. The 13.14-kilometre Zojila tunnel connects two sides cut off by snow during winter months.
Over 3,000 workers have been involved since 2020 in excavating the tunnel, which passes beneath the 3,528-metre high-altitude Zojila Pass. Project engineer Manmohan Singh stated that the team worked day and night under challenging weather conditions to complete the project without any accidents.
The Zojila tunnel is part of a larger network of four major tunnels, including the Sonamarg tunnel (6.5 kilometres), expected to be fully operational by 2028 at an estimated cost of $712 million. Additionally, India has developed a $3.9 billion railway line connecting the lowland plains with occupied Kashmir, featuring the Chenab Rail Bridge, currently the world’s highest.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the railway route in June 2025, which begins in Udhampur and runs through Srinagar. The project underscores India’s efforts to improve connectivity and strategic influence in South Asia amid ongoing tensions with China.