Omar Abdullah welcomes Zojila Tunnel Breakthrough, urges centre to start direct flights to Kargil

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday welcomed the breakthrough of the strategically important Zojila Tunnel and urged Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari to help establish regular direct air connectivity to Kargil.

Speaking at the tunnel breakthrough ceremony in Minimarg, Abdullah described the milestone as a major step towards achieving all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh. He congratulated the people of Ladakh and thanked the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for advancing the ambitious infrastructure project.

“I congratulate the people of Ladakh and thank Nitin Gadkari and his ministry for this breakthrough, which brings us closer to the dream of year-round connectivity,” Abdullah said.

While celebrating the progress of the Zojila Tunnel, the chief minister highlighted another long-pending demand of the region — direct and regular air services to Kargil.

“Regular and direct air connectivity to Kargil remains an unfulfilled aspiration. I had made efforts in this regard but without success. It is a long-standing demand of the people of Kargil,” he said.

Appealing to Gadkari, Abdullah said the Union minister's support could help turn the demand into reality. He noted that enhanced air connectivity, along with improved road infrastructure, would significantly boost tourism, trade, and overall development in the region.

The Zojila Tunnel project achieved a significant milestone on Tuesday when the final 2.5 metres separating the two ends of the tunnel were successfully blasted, connecting both sides of the high-altitude passage through the Himalayas.

Gadkari remotely triggered the breakthrough blast near the eastern portal of the tunnel in the presence of Abdullah and Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

Officials said the tunnel, once completed, will become the world's longest single-tube bi-directional road tunnel. It is expected to reduce travel time across the Zojila Pass from nearly 90 minutes to around 15 minutes while ensuring uninterrupted connectivity throughout the year.

Abdullah said the project would transform the lives of people in the region by improving access to education, healthcare, tourism, trade, and essential services. He also expressed hope that the remaining construction work would be completed quickly so that the tunnel could be opened for public use at the earliest.