Being built at a cost of Rs 4,500 crore, work on the strategically vital Zojila tunnel is progressing at fullThrottle, with authorities confident of completing the project ahead of the November 2028 deadline. Retired Colonel Shiv Kumar, General Manager of the construction company MEIL, said that excavation on the 13-km main tunnel is nearing completion, with the remaining work progressing in parallel. “Only 1,250 metres of excavation is left in the main tunnel. The rest has already been completed. We are aiming to finish the work well before November 2028,” he said. Kumar explained that the project has been divided into two parts, with part one already completed. He said part one covers the stretch from the Sonamarg tunnel to the western portal of the main Zojila tunnel, including a 17-km approach road. “This section includes two small tunnels, seven cut-and-cover structures in avalanche-prone areas, a snow gallery, four bridges, and associated road work. Part One has already been completed,” he informed. Part two, he said, comprises the 13-km main Zojila tunnel, where the remaining excavation and the concrete lining work are underway. He said concrete lining has already begun on completed sections, with over 2 km lined so far. “Only a small portion of excavation remains. We are on track to complete everything well before the deadline,” he added. Kumar said the project, which began in October-November 2020, initially saw only mobilisation due to harsh winter conditions. “Full-scale work from both the Kashmir and Ladakh sides started once the weather improved in 2021,” he said. Terming the tunnel a “lifeline for Ladakh,” Kumar said the region currently remains cut off for months due to heavy snowfall at Zojila Pass, which receives up to 15 metres of snow in winter. “With this tunnel, round-the-year, 24-hour connectivity will be ensured. It will boost tourism, improve livelihoods, and transform life for local communities; the tunnel also holds immense strategic importance,” he said.