Zojila, June 10 -- The Rs 6,800-crore Zojila tunnel, Asia's longest tunnel connecting the Kashmir valley to Ladakh, on Tuesday achieved a significant breakthrough with a blast breaking through the last 2.5 metres of the 13-km high-altitude infrastructure project that cuts through the Himalayas. Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari performed the breakthrough blasting of the main tunnel being constructed at an altitude of 11,578 feet above sea level, around 24 km from Sonamarg and 103 km from Srinagar. Addressing the media, the minister said the project is a lifeline for the people of Leh, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir. It is at a height of 3,000 metres and workers have given their contribution by working in temperatures as low as minus four degrees. He said 80% of the workforce belongs to the region, and added that the project will provide all-weather connectivity to people of Ladakh region to Srinagar. The breakthrough blasting of the main tunnel was conducted at an equidistant of 6.5 km, providing access to East Portal (east side) to West Portal (west side). FULL REPORT ON P2...