New Delhi, June 9 -- A major breakthrough was witnessed on Tuesday by the Zojila tunnel that connects Kashmir's Sonmarg to Ladakh's Minamarg as a blast broke through the last 2.5 metres of the project that cuts through the Himalayas.

With this breakthrough, the two ends of the world's longest single-tube bi-directional bypass have now been connected, as per officials who spoke to news agency PTI.

This tunnel will cut travel time between Kashmir and Ladakh from 1.5 hours to a mere 15 minutes.

The final breakthrough was attended by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, who pressed the remote button that blasted the site near the tunnel's East Portal in Ladakh Union Territory's Minimarg.

Gadkari said regarding the...