Zoji-la Tunnel
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Location | Zoji La, Ladakh, India |
| Coordinates | 34°16′44″N 75°28′19″E / 34.27889°N 75.47194°E |
| Status | Under Construction |
| Route | NH 1 |
| End | 2026 |
| Operation | |
| Work begun | 15 October 2020 |
| Constructed | MEIL |
| Operator | National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) |
| Traffic | Motor vehicles |
| Technical | |
| No. of lanes | Two (one in each direction) |
Zoji La Tunnel is an under-construction 9.5 m wide, 7.57 m high and 14.2 km long, horseshoe-shaped single-tube, 2 lane road tunnel at the height of around 12,000 feet above sea level which passes under the Zoji La pass in the Himalayas between Sonamarg, Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir and Dras, Kargil district of Ladakh. The project cost for this smart tunnel (SCADA) system, constructed using the New Austrian tunneling method and equipped with CCTV, radio control, uninterrupted power supply, ventilation, etc is INR 8,308 crore (~US$1.04 billion) as per 2021 estimates. Together with the adjacent Z-Morh Tunnel, this geostrategically important tunnel on the NH1 Srinagar-Leh Highway will provide year around weather-proof connectivity to Ladakh and Baltal (Amarnath cave), reduce the earlier 1-1.5 hours travel time to just 15 minutes drive, boost the tourism and economy, and enhance the logistics of the Indian Armed Forces. It is one of the 31 road tunnels (20 in J&K and 11 in Ladakh) being constructed at a combined cost of INR1400 billion (~US$17.5 billion). Upon completion it will become the longest tunnel in Asia.