Srinagar, June 9: Engineers associated with the Zoji-La Tunnel project have said that nearly 80 percent of the work on the strategic tunnel has been completed, with the remaining construction expected to take around two-and-a-half years before the project is fully commissioned.
The assessment comes shortly after the project achieved a major milestone with the final breakthrough of the tunnel, bringing one of India’s most ambitious infrastructure projects closer to completion.
According to engineers, while the breakthrough marks a significant engineering achievement, substantial work related to lining, ventilation, safety systems, electrical installations, approach roads, and other allied infrastructure remains to be completed before the tunnel can be opened for regular traffic.
Based on the current pace of work, the project is expected to be fully ready by 2029, when the tunnel is likely to provide seamless all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh.
The 13.15-kilometer tunnel is considered strategically important as it will bypass the snow-bound Zoji-La Pass, which frequently remains closed during winter months, disrupting civilian movement and supply lines.
Engineers said the project has now entered a critical phase where focus will shift from excavation to installation of operational and safety infrastructure required for commissioning.
They added that in the event of any emergency requirement, limited use of the tunnel could be considered before its formal commissioning, subject to safety clearances and operational feasibility.
Once completed, the tunnel is expected to significantly improve year-round connectivity, reduce weather-related disruptions, enhance strategic mobility, and facilitate the movement of people and goods between Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. – [KNT]
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