India is constructing the Zojila Tunnel in the Himalayas, aiming to build the longest two-lane road tunnel in Asia at an altitude of 12,000 feet.
The tunnel serves both infrastructural and political purposes, enabling quicker travel between Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh, and strengthening India's position on its disputed border with China.
India invests nearly $1 billion to build the Zojila Tunnel, the longest two-lane road tunnel in Asia.
Situated at 12,000 feet above sea level in the Himalayas, the tunnel aims to reduce travel time and improve connectivity.
The tunnel holds political significance, allowing India to enhance troop deployment along its contested border with China.
The construction takes place under extreme conditions, involving thousands of workers in isolated camps enduring tough terrain and scarce oxygen.
Engineers and workers employ intricate techniques, including blasting with dynamite, to advance the tunnel's construction by about 10 feet daily.
The India-China border dispute, intensified by differing territorial views, underscores the strategic importance of the tunnel in the region.
Amid personal sacrifices, workers like Sartaj contribute to the project, driven by a sense of national service and family responsibility.