Zojila tunnel is a gamechanger for national security, integration: Nitin Gadkari

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari connected Tuesday (June 9, 2026) oversaw the 13.14 km long Zojila tunnel’s breakthrough, terming it a “gamechanger from information position and [the position of] nationalist integration”.

“From the position of nationalist security, this task volition beryllium to beryllium a gamechanger. With round-the-year connectivity, the question of the Indian Army arsenic good arsenic the proviso of Army materials, equipment, and logistics volition go faster, safer, and much effective, thereby strengthening the country’s strategical preparedness,” Mr. Gadkari said.

Besides serving arsenic “a instauration for employment, economical opportunities, and amended prime of beingness for section people”, Mr. Gadkari said, “by establishing all-weather connectivity, this task volition supply caller spot to determination improvement and nationalist integration”.

Earlier successful the day, the Union Minister oversaw the last blasting of the Zojila passageway from the Kargil side, and termed the passageway the world’s longest, single-tube, bi-directional roadworthy passageway astatine the highest altitude 11,578 ft.

“It’s a historic time successful India’s infrastructure development. Asia’s longest passageway project, the Zojila tunnel, has contiguous witnessed a historical moment. This breakthrough successful the main passageway is not simply a milestone successful operation advancement but a awesome of India’s method expertise, engineering prowess, and indomitable resolve,” Mr. Gadkari said.

Describing the passageway arsenic “a important section successful providing all-weather connectivity betwixt Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh”, the Union Minister said the task had been completed astatine a outgo of ₹6,800 crore, contempt an aboriginal estimation of ₹12,000 crore.

Built betwixt the altitudes of 2,900 metres to 3,310 metres, the Minister said the task presented a singular illustration of Indian engineering capableness successful immoderate of the world’s astir challenging terrains.

“Despite utmost snowfall, harsh weather, and analyzable geological conditions, India’s engineers and workers person transformed this challenging task into reality,” Mr. Gadkari said.

The passageway offered unsocial information measures for passengers, including a modern ventilation system, automatic occurrence detection, an precocious CCTV surveillance system, and cross-passage facilities for pedestrians.

“The astir two-hour travel from Sonamarg successful J&K to Minamarg successful Ladakh volition beryllium reduced to conscionable 30 minutes. This volition prevention clip and fuel. There volition beryllium a simplification successful accidents and the hazard of avalanches,” Mr. Gadkari said.

“Under the visionary enactment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the passageway was taking signifier successful the midst of the snow-covered Himalayas and is not lone connecting mountains but besides possibilities”, the elder Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) person said. “We are committed to the wide improvement of Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh done modern infrastructure construction,” helium added.

Mr. Gadkari besides announced a drawstring of roadworthy projects for J&K and Ladakh connected the occasion.

“It’s a imagination travel existent for the radical of Kargil. This milestone marks a transformative measurement towards ensuring all-weather connectivity betwixt Kashmir and Ladakh, boosting economical growth, strengthening tourism, and bringing the radical of the 2 regions person together,” J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said connected the occasion. Mr. Abdullah urged the Union Minister to propulsion for Kargil’s aerial connectivity with the remainder of the country.

J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha besides attended the ‘breakthrough ceremony’. “This engineering marvel volition importantly trim question time, guarantee safer travel, and supply important substance savings. It will look arsenic a lifeline for the region, strengthening proviso chains, boosting tourism, and providing captious strategical enactment to our Armed Forces,” Mr. Sinha said.

Mr. Gadkari besides praised Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited’s (MEIL) managing manager P.V. Krishna Reddy, task caput Harpal Singh, and engineers and unit for achieving the feat. The passageway was executed by MEIL for the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.