On the fourth day of the ongoing press tour to Jammu and Kashmir, a 13-member media delegation from the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Kochi, visited the Zojila Main Tunnel Project to gain first-hand insights into the progress, construction activities and strategic significance of the major infrastructure project connecting Jammu and Kashmir with Ladakh.
The Zojila Tunnel Project is being implemented by the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
During the visit, Shri Yousef Es'haghpour Rahimabadi, Team Leader of the Authority Engineer for NHIDCL Zojila Road and Tunnel Projects, briefed the media delegation on the project, its construction activities and the safety measures being adopted. He highlighted the importance of the project for the nation, particularly in strengthening strategic logistics and ensuring reliable connectivity to Ladakh.
The Zojila Main Tunnel is approximately 13.15 kilometres long. The bi-directional tunnel is being constructed between Baltal in Jammu and Kashmir and Minamarg in Ladakh.
The main tunnel project is expected to significantly improve connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The tunnel will reduce the travel time across the Zojila Pass from around 2–3.5 hours to approximately 20–30 minutes. It is also expected to provide all-weather connectivity by overcoming the prolonged winter closure of the Zojila Pass, which earlier remained inaccessible for nearly five to six months due to heavy snowfall.
During the interaction, Shri Yousaf highlighted the extensive safety arrangements incorporated into the project and said that the tunnel would bring multiple benefits, including improved movement of essential commodities and fuel towards Ladakh, enhanced travel time and safety, and greater logistical efficiency. He also noted that the project would generate employment opportunities and contribute to economic development in the region.
The delegation also visited Sonamarg, where the journalists experienced the picturesque landscape and lush greenery of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
