Zoji La Tunnel

The Zoji La Tunnel is Asia's longest bi-directional highway tunnel under construction — a 14.15 km single-tube tunnel under the 3,528 m Zoji La pass on the Srinagar-Leh highway (NH-1). When complete, it will provide the first year-round road access to Ladakh, eliminating the 6-month winter closure of the Zoji La pass that has isolated the region every winter for decades.

The project is part of a larger 33 km road infrastructure complex that includes the parallel Z-Morh Tunnel (6.5 km, opened 2024) at lower altitude. Both tunnels together form the all-weather Sonamarg-Kargil link, vital after the 2020 India-China Galwan standoff highlighted the strategic importance of all-weather Ladakh access.

Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited (MEIL) executed the project under NHIDCL after Larsen & Toubro withdrew in 2017 over technical disputes. Construction restarted in 2020. The tunnel uses NATM excavation through fractured Himalayan rock at altitudes of 2,400-3,000 m. Major design challenges include managing avalanche risk on approach roads, freezing-temperature concrete works, and 200+ inch annual snowfall.

The project includes a 14.15 km parallel emergency egress tunnel + 5 ventilation shafts. Total cost ₹4,509 crore. When complete (target 2026), Srinagar-Kargil travel will reduce from 3.5 hours to 15 minutes through the tunnel + Z-Morh complex.