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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday carried out virtually the first blast of the 4.1 km long strategic Shinkun La tunnel in the Ladakh region which will be a milestone in the holistic development of the region.

The Prime Minister said that the tunnel will make the transport of defence equipment swift and efficient and will give a big boost to the economic and overall development of the Ladakh region.

The first blast marks the beginning of the tunnel construction process.

Shinkun Lal tunnel will be a 4.1 kilometre-long twin-tube tunnel which will be constructed at an altitude of around 15,800 feet above sea level.

कारगिल में मां भारती के लिए मर-मिटने वाले वीर सपूतों के शौर्य और पराक्रम का साक्षी बना। pic.twitter.com/YYmuUJ85Uo

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2024

The tunnel will be constructed on Nimu-Padum-Darcha road to provide all-weather connectivity to Leh. When completed, it will be the highest tunnel in the World.

The tunnel will be a twin-tube double-lane with cross passages at every 500 meters. The tunnel’s features include Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Systems (SCADA), Mechanical Ventilation Systems, Fire Fighting Systems and Communication Systems.

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The tunnel will serve as a vital link, connecting the Lahaul Valley in Himachal Pradesh with the Zanskar Valley in Ladakh. There are two existing axes to Leh at present, the Srinagar-Zojila-Kargil-Leh and the Manali-Atal Tunnel-Sarchu-Leh.