Srinagar: The Zoji La Tunnel, an upcoming strategic corridor that will provide all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh, is nearing a crucial moment, and engineers are moving towards a “successful” final blast around May 30.Work is going on at about four meters per day from both ends – Sonamarg (Baltal) in Kashmir and Meenamarg in Ladakh – using controlled drilling and blasting. Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) chief operating officer (COO) Harpal Singh told TOI that only 300 meters of the 13.155 km long tunnel remains to be excavated. The Hyderabad-based company is implementing this project.“The final blast will conclude the excavation phase, completing the main structure of the tunnel,” Singh said. He said the blast would indicate physical connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh.According to Singh, this historic achievement will be achieved by reducing tunnel excavation to zero within 30 to 35 days. “The breakthrough will ensure expeditious construction of the remaining works including concrete lining, permanent tunnel drainage, installation of monitoring equipment, control building, underground transformer and (traffic) smoke control system,” Singh said.There are still two and a half years left for the tunnel to be completed. Before it is opened to the public, the breakthrough will allow construction teams and machines to move seamlessly between the two ends, streamlining work. “Teams and equipment can move through the tunnel without any hassle,” Singh said, adding that this would help in continuing the construction work in winter when surface movement would be halted due to heavy snowfall in Sonamarg.Officials said the tunnel will reduce the distance between the two ends (Sonamarg and Meenamarg) from 49 km to 43 km and the vehicle speed will increase from 30 km per hour to 70 km per hour.