- Why in news
- On 9 June 2026, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari witnessed the breakthrough of the main tunnel at the eastern portal of the Zojila Tunnel at Minamarg, Kargil district. The tunnel will give all-weather road links between Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
- What it is
- The Zojila Tunnel is a bi-directional road tunnel on National Highway-1 between Baltal and Minamarg, across the Zojila pass in the Himalaya. It is built by NHIDCL to keep the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh road open when snow and avalanches close the pass. It is meant for civil traffic and for Army logistics to border areas.
- Location
- The tunnel lies between Baltal and Minamarg on National Highway-1. The eastern portal is at Minamarg in Kargil district.
- Implementing agency
- NHIDCL, under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, is involved in executing the project.
- Protective structures
- The project includes eight cut-and-cover sections, four bridges, 40 culverts, snow galleries, catch dams and avalanche protection structures.
- Travel time
- Travel time between Sonamarg and Minamarg will fall from nearly two hours to about 30 minutes.
Don’t confuse with Zojila vs Zoji La tunnel naming: Zojila is the pass between Kashmir Valley and Ladakh, near Sonamarg, Baltal and Minamarg. Fatu-La and Kela Pass are different, proposed tunnels in Ladakh.
Don’t confuse with Zojila vs Manali-Leh route tunnels: Zojila is on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh axis. Baralacha La, Lachulung La and Tanglang La tunnels are planned on the Manali-Leh route.
Places in the news: 26 Prelims questions since 2013, rising (12% of news questions in 2022–26); they test location and why it matters.
Why it matters
- Gives all-weather road access to Ladakh, which is cut off when Zojila closes in winter.
- Faster Army movement and logistics to border areas improves strategic preparedness; it also helps tourism and trade.
Problems
- High altitude, heavy snowfall, avalanches and complex geology raise cost and delay construction.
- Maintaining ventilation, safety and avalanche protection on approach roads is demanding.
Way forward
- Complete the remaining works and link the tunnel with approach roads and the Srinagar-Sonamarg corridor.
- Build the other planned tunnels on both routes so the whole Ladakh axis is all-weather.
Put in your answer
Project cost: The Zojila Tunnel costs about ₹6,800 crore.
Ladakh road projects: Road and tunnel projects worth about ₹18,000 crore are being implemented between Kargil and Leh-Ladakh.
J&K highway outlay: Highway projects worth about ₹1.35 lakh crore are being implemented in J&K.
- 2026Mains GS3 · Q10Discuss Ladakh's strategic location, BADP, Army civic actions, and Sixth Schedule demand.
- 2024Mains GS3 · Q19Examine border security challenges and development under BADP and BIM Scheme.
- 2026Mains GS3 · Q7How to manage infrastructure development versus disaster-risk reduction in ecologically sensitive areas.
- 2007Prelims Q88Which strait is crossed by a tunnel connecting the UK and France?
- 2023Prelims Q10Which India connectivity projects (Golden Quadrilateral, Trilateral Highway, BCIM) are correctly described?
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Breakthrough of a 14 km tunnel between Baltal and Minamarg on NH-1, about ₹6,800 crore. Places are 26 of 327 Prelims questions; Mains is unlikely for a single project.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.