Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday described the breakthrough of the Zojila Tunnel as a historic achievement that would transform the lives of people in Ladakh and fulfil a long-pending dream of year-round connectivity between Kashmir and the Union Territory.Addressing the gathering at the Zojila Tunnel breakthrough ceremony, Omar Abdullah congratulated the people of Ladakh and thanked Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and his ministry for bringing the ambitious project to a crucial milestone.
“I would like to congratulate the people of Ladakh and thank Gadkari Sahib and his department. We have now reached a point where Kashmir and Ladakh are connected throughout the year in the real sense,” the Chief Minister said.
He said the dream of all-weather connectivity had remained unfulfilled for decades despite being a long-standing aspiration of the people living in the region.
“This was a dream for the people for a very long time, but nobody could make it a reality until now,” he said.
Omar Abdullah noted that the significance of the tunnel could best be understood by those who have experienced the hardships caused by the closure of the Zojila Pass during winter months.
“The difficulties faced by the people here because of the absence of this tunnel can be understood only by interacting with them. Whether it is students seeking education, patients needing medical treatment, or families travelling during winter, this tunnel will make a huge difference in their lives,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the project would improve access to essential services, facilitate economic activity and strengthen social and cultural ties between Kashmir and Ladakh.