Excavation work on the Zojila Tunnel was completed on 9 June 2026, moving the project closer to providing all-weather road connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh. The tunnel is being built between Baltal in Jammu & Kashmir and Minimarg in Ladakh on the Srinagar–Leh National Highway. The Zojila pass is often closed for months in winter due to heavy snowfall, so the tunnel is expected to ensure year-round movement of people, goods and defence supplies.