On June 09, 2026 MEIL Group has successfully achieved the final breakthrough of the Zojila Tunnel, completing a major milestone in one of India's most important infrastructure projects and fulfilling a long-standing vision of providing year-round connectivity to Ladakh.
The breakthrough was completed in the presence of the Hon'ble Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari. The event was also attended by Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Omar Abdullah, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir Manoj Sinha and Mohmad Haneefa, Chief Executive Councillor for LAHDC - Kargil Dr. Jaffer Akhoon, Chief Secretary of Ladakh Ashish Kundra, N.H.I.D.C.L Managing Director Dr. Krishna Kumar , MEIL group Managing Director Mr. P.V. Krishna Reddy, senior project officials, and representative other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.
At 13.153 kilometres, the Zojila Tunnel is the world's longest single-tube, bi-directional road tunnel at an highest altitude of 11,578 feet. The project is a major step forward in improving connectivity in one of the country's most challenging regions.
Once operational, the tunnel will provide an all-weather road link between Srinagar and Ladakh, ensuring uninterrupted access throughout the year. For decades, heavy snowfall during winter restricted movement across the region. The tunnel will help improve transportation, support local businesses, strengthen tourism, improve access to essential services, and enhance strategic connectivity.
The breakthrough comes after nearly six years of continuous work under difficult conditions. MEIL's engineering teams worked through sub-zero temperatures, avalanche-prone areas, and complex geological formations. Using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), the teams successfully excavated through 67 different geological rock formations while maintaining safety and construction quality standards.
The successful breakthrough of the Zojila Tunnel reflects MEIL's experience in executing large and complex infrastructure projects that contribute to the nation's development.
MEIL group proudly dedicates this monumental achievement to its thousands of employees, engineers, technicians, and workers whose unwavering dedication transformed an ambitious vision into reality. Above all, this accomplishment belongs to the people of India—a symbol of progress, resilience, and the collective aspiration to connect every corner of the nation
