India begins work on world's 'highest tunnel' in Kashmir along China border

SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated work on what is boasted as the world’s highest tunnel project along border with China in Jammu and Kashmir.

Modi was in eastern Ladakh region to mark the 25th anniversary of Kargil War of 1999 with Pakistan.

He virtually marked the commencement of the construction of the Shinkun La tunnel, a project of strategic importance aimed at providing alternate all-weather connectivity between northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh.

It will also allow faster troop mobility along the China border.

Situated at an altitude of 15,800 feet, the 4.1 kilometers (2.6 miles) tunnel will be built under the daunting Shinkun Pass on the Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road by the Indian Border Roads Organization at an estimated cost of 16.81 billion Indian rupees ($168 million).

Last year in February, Modi's Cabinet had approved the project which is said to be one of the world’s highest tunnel projects.

Meanwhile, Modi also visited the Kargil War memorial in Drass area in the Kargil district of Ladakh to pay homage to fallen soldiers of the 1999 war.

Ladakh is separately administered since India removed the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019.