Zojila Tunnel Breakthrough Achieved on June 9, 2026

Key facts

• The Zojila tunnel will be India's longest road tunnel and is expected to be Asia's longest bi-directional tunnel with a total length of 14.15 kilometres.
• Located at an elevation of 11,578 feet, the tunnel connects Sonmarg in Jammu and Kashmir to Minamarg in Ladakh on the National Highway 1D (NH1D).
• A major breakthrough was achieved with the completion of more than 13 kilometres of excavation work, and the project is expected to become operational in 2028.
• The tunnel provides all-weather connectivity across the Zojila Pass, reducing the travel time between Ganderbal and Kargil from approximately three hours to slightly upwards of 20 minutes.
• The project is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 6,800 crore and is part of a larger regional initiative involving 19 tunnels costing Rs 25,000 crore.