Srinagar, June 9 (KNS) : The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the breakthrough of the Zojila Tunnel would finally end the region’s seasonal isolation, ensuring a year-round road link between Kashmir and Ladakh for the first time in decades.

 

Speaking at the tunnel site, CM Omar as per KNS credited Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for pushing the strategically critical project through, but also used the platform to raise the “unfinished agenda” of regular air connectivity to Kargil.

 

“The true impact will be reflected in the lives of local residents — students, patients and traders,” CM Omar said. “This project will bring change that is difficult to fully measure today.”

 

However, he added that the people of Kargil still await another basic lifeline. “We made serious efforts but could not succeed. I request Gadkari sahib to help realise this demand,” he said, urging the Centre to not let the Zojila milestone overshadow other connectivity deficits.

 

The 13.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel153-km single-tube bi-directional tunnel, built at an elevation of nearly 11,578 feet, is being hailed as the world’s longest of its kind at such altitude. Tuesday’s breakthrough blast on the main section was witnessed by Gadkari, who described it as an “engineering marvel” that will ensure all-weather access to Ladakh, a region that remains cut off for months every winter due to the closure of the Zojila Pass.

 

For residents on both sides of the pass, the tunnel promises to transform access to healthcare, education, tourism and trade — moving beyond a history where harsh winters would bring life to a halt.

 

While the Union Minister focused on the strategic and economic dividends of the project, Abdullah’s intervention served as a reminder that for many locals, the battle for reliable connectivity is still only half-won.

 

Notably, the tunnel — 9.5 metres wide and 7.57 metres high — is part of a larger effort to upgrade the region’s infrastructure. Officials said the remaining work is expected to be completed on schedule. (KNS)