The Zoji La tunnel, a critical 13.1 km infrastructure project aimed at providing all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh, is poised for a significant milestone with a final breakthrough blast scheduled for Tuesday. Currently, only three meters of rock remain to be blasted before the two ends of the tunnel—located at Sonamarg (Baltal) in Kashmir and Minamarg in Ladakh—meet. Union highways minister Nitin Gadkari will initiate the blast, symbolizing the completion of the excavation phase and paving the way for improved ventilation and expedited work on the remaining sections of the tunnel, which is expected to be completed in two years. The project, which employs approximately 1,400 workers, has faced numerous challenges, including extreme temperatures and avalanches. Both Gadkari and Harpal Singh, COO of Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd., highlighted the tunnel's strategic importance for regional connectivity and India's interests. The project is celebrated for its engineering feats in the harsh Himalayan terrain, with local workers playing a crucial role in its progress.