Kargil, Jan 14: Calling the Zoji La Tunnel “a remarkable work of engineering,” Chief Secretary of Ladakh Ashish Kundra on Tuesday said the project would reshape travel between Srinagar and Kargil by providing all-weather road access across the high mountain pass.
Mr. Kundra made the remarks during an on-site inspection, where he assessed construction progress, reviewed the quality of work and interacted with engineers and officials of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). He toured various work fronts along the stretch and received briefings on tunnelling stages, equipment deployment, and the challenges posed by deep snow and unpredictable rock conditions. Officials shared measures being implemented to sustain operations through winter.
At about 13 kilometres, the Zoji La Tunnel will be one of the longest road tunnels in the Himalayan belt. Once operational, it is expected to improve passenger travel and cargo movement for residents, traders and transporters, while opening fresh opportunities for tourism across the region.
Mr. Kundra said the tunnel would reshape mobility in Ladakh, ease the supply of fuel, food and medical essentials, and help the region benefit from increased tourist inflow. He also underlined the importance of uninterrupted access for security agencies, noting that year-round connectivity would strengthen movement to high-altitude forward posts.
During the inspection, the Chief Secretary instructed project teams to adhere to timelines, maintain strict quality checks and ensure worker safety in the harsh terrain and severe cold. He said Zoji La would stand as evidence of modern road-building capacity and the administration’s commitment to improve life in remote and border belts.
The project continues to draw wide attention as Ladakh pushes ahead with infrastructure that aims to overcome isolation and bolster economic links with the rest of the country.
Earlier, The Chief Secretary chaired a comprehensive review meeting in Kargil with senior officers to assess administrative functioning, developmental progress and delivery of public services in District Kargil.
The meeting was attended by Administrative Secretary, Education, Bhanu Prabha; Administrative Secretary, PHE, Rahul Sharma; Administrative Secretary, YS&S Moses Kunzang; Senior Superintendent of Police, Kargil, Nitin Yadav; Additional Deputy Commissioner, Imteeaz Kacho; Directors, Joint Directors, Chief Engineers PWD, PDD and BRO, Sub-Divisional Magistrates District Officers and heads of various Public Sector Undertakings based in Kargil.
The Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, attending the meeting virtually, gave a broad outline about the District’s achievements and highlighted the challenges being faced. Important development indicators were discussed in detail. The Senior Superintendent of Police gave a broad outline about the law and order situation in the District. On the other hand, heads of various departments presented sector-wise updates on ongoing works, funds utilization, achievements and key challenges.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary was given an overview of the District’s profile, including education and health infrastructure, budget allocation, expenditure and revenue. Progress under major schemes such as the Jal Jeevan Mission, sewerage and sanitation projects, tourism development, education and health initiatives, power supply, rural development, agriculture and allied sectors, employment generation and digitization of revenue services with emphasis on timely completion, effective utilization of assets and improved service delivery. The law and order situation and status of crime status were also reviewed,
The Chief Secretary stressed on strengthening citizen-centric governance through wider outreach, enhanced digital services and programmes such as Kargil Jan Hit Camp 1.0.
He directed all heads of the departments to adopt a solution-oriented approach, conduct regular field visits, remain accessible to the public and work in close coordination to address public concerns and promote inclusive development.
The meeting concluded with the Chief Secretary reiterating the importance of transparency, teamwork and people-centric governance for the overall development of Ladakh.
Earlier in the morning, the Chief Secretary attended the inaugural ceremony of the 5th LG Ice Hockey Tournament at the Ice Hockey Rink in Byamathang, Kargil as guest of honour where Chairman/CEC, LADHC-Kargil was the chief guest. In his address, the Chief Secretary lauded the efforts of the concerned departments for the promotion of winter sports, particularly ice hockey. He described ice hockey as a unique experience and noted that today’s experience was his first first-hand exposure to the sport which left a lasting impression on him.
Kundra also appreciated the role of the Indian Army for its dual role—safeguarding the nation’s borders while actively contributing to sports promotion and youth engagement in the region. He assured full support from the UT Administration for the development of winter sports infrastructure in Kargil while emphasizing that necessary steps would be taken to strengthen facilities and encourage wider participation.
Subsequently, he inspected stalls at Khri Sultan Cho Sports Stadium showcasing handloom, handicrafts, handloom industry products, tourism initiatives, and local entrepreneurship. He interacted with stakeholders/SHG members and emphasized the need to promote local crafts, strengthen value chains and enhance livelihood opportunities through focussed administrative support.
The Chief Secretary then reviewed the progress of works on infrastructure of the Youth Services & Sports Department adjacent to the sports stadium and passed instructions for early completion of the projects. He also visited the Tourist Facilitation Centre (TFC) of the Tourism Development Authority of Kargil and reviewed its operations and management.
