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Zojila Tunnel Breakthrough: World's Longest Single-Tube Bidirectional Road Tunnel (13.14 km) at 11,578 ft Operational by 2028

InfrastructureSecurity & DefenceEnvironmentCORE
Target:UPSCMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
13 Jun 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:13.14 km₹6,800 crore11,578 feet202830.894 km10 million safe working hours
Bodies:NHIDCLMegha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL)
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What This Article Covers

1.The Zojila Tunnel, at 13.14 km, is set to become the world's longest single-tube bidirectional road tunnel at an altitude of 11,578 feet, bypassing the treacherous Zojila Pass.

2.Constructed at a cost of ₹6,800 crore and expected to be operational by 2028, it will provide year-round connectivity, crucial for military logistics and local economic development.

3.The project, built by NHIDCL and MEIL, faced extreme geological challenges, including 67 rock classification changes and severe weather, but achieved 10 million safe working hours.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

The final breakthrough of the strategically vital Zojila Tunnel marks a critical infrastructure milestone for India. This all-weather link between Ladakh and Kashmir, costing ₹6,800 crore, enhances national security by ensuring year-round military mobility and promises socio-economic transformation for the region, reducing travel time from 2 hours to 30-40 minutes.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Tunnel Length13.14 km (Main tunnel)
Project Cost₹6,800 crore
Altitude11,578 feet
Expected Opening2028
Total Project Length30.894 km
Key AgenciesNHIDCL and Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL)

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Tunnel Length: 13.14 km (Main tunnel)
  • ›Project Cost: ₹6,800 crore
  • ›Target this Data: 13.14 km (tunnel length), ₹6,800 crore (cost), 11,578 feet (altitude), 2028 (operational year).
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
  • ›Target this Engineering Method: New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM).

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

1Static LinkageEasy

Which organization, under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, is responsible for the construction of the Zojila Tunnel?

2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the Zojila Tunnel:

1. It will be the world's longest single-tube bidirectional road tunnel at an altitude of 11,578 feet.

2. The tunnel will connect Baltal in Ladakh's Drass district to Minamarg in Kashmir's Ganderbal district.

3. The construction of the tunnel officially started in October 2020, following the Galwan clash between India and China.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

3Data-centricMedium

What is the total project length, including tunnel roads and bridges, for the Zojila Tunnel project as mentioned in the article?

4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary strategic significance of the Zojila Tunnel, as highlighted in the article?

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