India achieved the final breakthrough in the Zojila Tunnel on Tuesday, completing excavation work on the 13.153-km tunnel that will connect Baltal near Sonamarg in Jammu and Kashmir with Meenamarg in the Drass-Kargil region of Ladakh.The breakthrough was marked by the excavation of the final rock wall inside the tunnel in the presence of Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and other officials.Situated at an elevation of about 11,578 feet, the Zojila Tunnel is being built at a cost of around Rs 6,500 crore and is expected to transform connectivity along one of India's most challenging mountain corridors. The route remains cut off for several months every year due to heavy snowfall, avalanches and extreme weather conditions.Once operational, the tunnel will provide year-round road access between Kashmir and Ladakh, reducing travel disruptions and improving connectivity for civilians, tourists and defence forces.The project is being executed by Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd, which has described it as one of the most significant engineering undertakings in India's infrastructure sector.The tunnel holds strategic importance as it will ensure uninterrupted access to Ladakh, a region that currently depends on weather conditions for road connectivity through the Zojila Pass. Improved connectivity is also expected to boost tourism in destinations such as Sonamarg, Drass and Kargil.The final breakthrough paves the way for the next phase of construction, including finishing works, installation of safety systems and operational infrastructure before the tunnel is opened to traffic.