LEH: A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation from Kargil on Monday thanked the Union Government for advancing the Zojila Tunnel project and sought the sanction of additional connectivity projects aimed at strengthening Ladakh’s road infrastructure.
The delegation, led by BJP Kargil District President Assadullah Munshi, met Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Harsh Malhotra in Leh and submitted a memorandum outlining key infrastructure requirements for the Union Territory.
Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, the delegation said the Zojila Tunnel had addressed a long-standing aspiration of the people of Kargil and Ladakh for all-weather connectivity with the rest of the country.
Munshi described the tunnel as more than an engineering project, calling it a catalyst for development and improved accessibility in the region. He said residents of Kargil and Drass had for decades faced prolonged winter isolation due to the seasonal closure of the Zojila Pass and that the ongoing tunnel project would substantially ease those challenges.
The delegation also welcomed the sanctioning of the Fotula Tunnel, stating that it would further improve year-round mobility and support tourism, trade and economic activity within Ladakh.
In its memorandum, the BJP sought early approval of the Namkila Tunnel, the Panikhar-Pahalgam Road Connectivity Project and cut-and-cover avalanche protection structures between Minamarg and Drass. According to the delegation, these projects would complement the benefits of the Zojila Tunnel and strengthen the region’s transport network.
The BJP leaders said infrastructure expansion over the past decade had accelerated development in remote and border areas, with Ladakh emerging as a major beneficiary of investments in roads, tunnels and strategic connectivity.
Malhotra assured the delegation that their demands would be examined and forwarded to the concerned authorities for consideration, the party said.
