Zojila Tunnel to Be Ready By 2027

15 Jan 2025 CW Team

The ambitious Zojila Tunnel project, connecting Baltal in Kashmir's Ganderbal district to Minimarg in Drass, Ladakh, is set to achieve critical milestones. With just 2,800 metres of excavation left, the bi-directional tunnel is expected to open for emergency and defence use by December 2025, with full completion projected by December 2027.

As per news report, the approach road from Sonamarg to Baltal is already complete, and rapid progress continues on the 13-km Zojila Tunnel, India’s highest highway tunnel at 12,000 feet. The project employs 1,200 workers, primarily from Jammu and Kashmir, and has seen delays due to weather and avalanches.

Once operational, the 31-km route — including an 18-km approach road — will provide crucial connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh, facilitating winter travel and military access. Approved in 2018 at Rs 68 billion, the Zojila Tunnel is part of a broader infrastructure initiative to enhance regional connectivity with 31 tunnels planned across J&K and Ladakh.

The Zojila Tunnel will allow travel speeds of up to 80 km/h and is a cornerstone of India’s strategic and logistical readiness in the region.

[ETVBharat]

Infrastructure Urban

08 Sep 2025

DRDO Transfers Key Defence Materials Tech to Industry

The Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) of DRDO in Hyderabad has transferred three advanced indigenous materials technologies to leading Indian industry partners, marking a major step towards self-reliance in strategic defence manufacturing. The Licensing Agreement for Transfer of Technology (LAToT) documents were handed over by Dr Samir V Kamat, Secretary of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, at a ceremony held at DMRL on 30 August 2025.The transferred technologies include:High-Strength Radomes: Transferred to BHEL, Jagdishpur, this technology enables the manufacture of high-p..

Coal Ministry Honours Top Mines for Safety and Sustainability

The Ministry of Coal hosted the Star Rating Award Ceremony in Mumbai to recognise outstanding coal and lignite mines for their achievements in safety, environmental responsibility, scientific operations, and community welfare. Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy, accompanied by Minister of State Shri Satish Chandra Dubey and Secretary Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, presented the accolades.The awards celebrate mines that have demonstrated excellence across key parameters such as safety, productivity, scientific mining, environmental stewardship, and socio-economic impact. The Minister ..

Modi Highlights Decade of Bold Economic Reforms

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi reaffirmed the government’s steadfast commitment to economic reforms over the past decade, highlighting transformative measures that have redefined India’s fiscal structure and enhanced its global economic position.Citing major initiatives such as corporate tax cuts to encourage investment, the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to unify the national market, and reforms in personal income tax to improve Ease of Living, Modi emphasised that the reform agenda has consistently been citizen-focused and pro-growth.He welcomed the ongoing #NextGe..