The Zoji La Tunnel Just Hit a Construction Milestone, But It Won't Speed Up Your Ladakh Trip Yet

On 9 June 2026, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari marked the breakthrough of the main tunnel at the eastern portal of the Zoji La Tunnel Project, near Minamarg in Kargil district, according to an official Press Information Bureau release. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah attended in person, with Ladakh's Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena joining virtually.

What the tunnel changes, eventually

The nearly 14km bi-directional tunnel is being built between Baltal and Minamarg on National Highway 1, at a project cost of around ₹6,800 crore. Once open, it is expected to cut travel time between Sonamarg and Minamarg from close to two hours to about 30 minutes, and to give Ladakh year-round road access for the first time; the Zoji La pass currently closes for several months every winter, cutting Ladakh off from Srinagar by road.

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Don't expect it to change your trip this year

Despite the June breakthrough, officials have said the project, reported at around 85 percent complete at that point, remains on track for commissioning by February 2028, well past an original September 2026 target. Travellers planning a Kashmir-Ladakh road trip over the next couple of winters should still expect the existing Zoji La pass to close on its usual seasonal schedule.

Confirm before you plan around it

Given how often large Indian infrastructure timelines shift, travellers should confirm the tunnel's current status and the Zoji La pass's opening and closing dates with the Border Roads Organisation or official Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh tourism channels before planning a winter itinerary around it.

Traveller tips

• The Zoji La pass typically closes from around November-December to April-May each year; check current status before planning overland travel between Srinagar and Leh outside summer.
• The new tunnel is not yet open to traffic; construction was around 85 percent complete as of mid-2026, with commissioning targeted for 2028.
• Confirm the latest project timeline and any road closures with the Border Roads Organisation or official Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh tourism sources before travelling.