write title and 18 words meta for this article ”The Jamiat Ul Ulama Isna Asharia Kargil on Tuesday hailed the breakthrough of the Zojila Tunnel as the realisation of a decades-old dream of the people of Ladakh, while thanking the central government for its commitment to the strategically crucial project.
Addressing a press conference here, organisation general secretary Sheikh Ibrahim Khalili and political affairs in-charge Sajjad Kargili said the all-weather tunnel was among the oldest and most significant demands of the people of Kargil and Drass.
“The Zojila Tunnel breakthrough is the fulfilment of a long-cherished dream. We are grateful to the Government of India for making it possible,” the leaders said.
They paid tribute to those who had campaigned for the project for decades but did not live to see the moment.
The organisation expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari for their leadership and vision. The speakers specifically noted that Gadkari’s personal monitoring of the project had played a key role in accelerating its progress.
Kargili said the people of Kargil were especially thankful to Gadkari for transforming a long-pending aspiration into reality.
The Jamiat also urged authorities to consider opening the tunnel for emergency and medical services during winter months even before formal completion, citing hardships caused by prolonged road closures due to heavy snowfall.
The organisation extended special appreciation to the NHIDCL team—engineers, technical experts and workers—for working in one of the world’s harshest climatic conditions to achieve the breakthrough.
Kargili noted that the people of Kargil had long pursued three major infrastructure aspirations: restoration of air services to Kargil, development of a new township at Karba Thang Plateau, and the Zojila Tunnel. With the tunnel breakthrough, one of these historic demands was now on the path to realisation.
The leaders also acknowledged contributions from political, social and religious organisations, and public representatives from Kargil and Drass who consistently raised the demand over the years.
Highlighting the tunnel’s broader significance, they said it would provide all-weather connectivity between Ladakh and the rest of the country, boosting trade, tourism, healthcare, education and economic development, while also strengthening national security and strategic access to border areas.
The Jamiat concluded that the breakthrough marked a landmark achievement in a long journey of struggle and hope, opening a new chapter of progress and prosperity for the region.”