Srinagar, June 9 -- Drass- Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday described the breakthrough achieved in the Zojila Tunnel project as a "golden day" in India's infrastructure history, saying the strategic project would emerge as a lifeline for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

The milestone was achieved after engineers blasted through the final stretch of rock inside the tunnel, connecting excavation works from both ends of the 13-km tunnel being built beneath the Zojila Pass.

"Today is a golden day in India's infrastructure history. I am happy that this state-of-the-art tunnel will become a lifeline for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh," Gadkari said after performing the breakthrough...