**Summary:**
This report addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2067 regarding the Zojila Tunnel project in Jammu and Kashmir, as answered on July 31, 2025, by the Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari. The Zojila Tunnel project, originally scheduled for completion on September 29, 2026, is now targeted for completion by February 2028 due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a terrorist attack at the Sonamarg Tunnel Project, and adverse weather conditions. As of the reporting date, the project has achieved 64% physical progress. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs. 6809 crore, with an expenditure of Rs. 3934.42 crore incurred to date. Currently, 1,141 individuals are employed in the project, with 77 employees from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. 28 workers of the total workforce are from the Ganderbal District. Information was provided by the National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
Key Entities Referenced
Zojila Tunnel: A tunnel project in Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Jammu and Kashmir: A union territory of India where the Zojila Tunnel is located.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The Indian government ministry responsible for road transport and highways.
Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari: The Minister of Road Transport and Highways answering the question.
Shri Mian Altaf Ahmad: The individual who posed the question about the Zojila Tunnel project in Lok Sabha.
Ganderbal District: A district in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir from which some workers are employed in the Zojila Tunnel project.
National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL): An Indian company providing infrastructure for national highways.
Sonamarg Tunnel Project: A related tunnel project in Jammu and Kashmir where a terrorist attack occurred, causing delays to the Zojila Tunnel Project.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2067
ANSWERED ON 31ST JULY, 2025
ZOJILA TUNNEL IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR
2067. Shri Mian Altaf Ahmad:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) the expected date of completion of the Zojila Tunnel project in
Jammu & Kashmir;
(b) the total estimated cost of the project;
(c) the amount of expenditure incurred on the project so far;
(d) the total number of persons currently employed in the project; and
(e) the number of workers from Ganderbal district employed in the said
project?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) The Zojila Tunnel Project in Jammu & Kashmir commenced with
an initial scheduled completion date of 29.09.2026. The project has
been delayed due to multiple factors, including the impact of the Covid-
19 pandemic, a terrorist attack at the Sonamarg Tunnel Project, and
extreme adverse weather conditions. The current physical progressstands at 64%, and the project is now targeted for completion
by February 2028.
(b) & (c) The Total Cost of the Project is Rs. 6809 crore, out of which
an expenditure of Rs. 3934.42 crore has been incurred so far.
(d) & (e) As per the information available with National Highways
Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), a total of
1,141 individuals are currently employed in the Zojila Tunnel Project. Of
these, 77% are from the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and 28%
of the overall workforce is from the Ganderbal District.
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