India has completed excavation of the strategically important Zojila Tunnel beneath the Himalayas, a major infrastructure project designed to strengthen connectivity between Kashmir and the border region of Ladakh.
The 13-kilometre tunnel, built at a cost of approximately $712 million, will provide year-round road access between the two regions, which are often cut off during winter due to heavy snowfall. More than 3,000 workers contributed to the project, which is expected to open to traffic in 2028.
Speaking at a ceremony on Tuesday, Roads Minister Nitin Gadkari described the tunnel as a vital strategic link rather than just a transportation project.
The development comes amid ongoing tensions along the 3,500-kilometre disputed border between India and China. Once connected to a railway line inaugurated last year, the tunnel is expected to improve military and civilian access to Ladakh, a region bordering China.
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