Shiv Sena MP proposes naming Zojila Tunnel portals after war hero and 8th-century Kashmir ruler
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has proposed naming the two portals of the Zojila Tunnel after Brigadier Mohammed Usman, a 1947-48 Indo-Pak war hero, and Samrat Lalitaditya Muktapida, an 8th-century Kashmir ruler. The ₹6,800-crore tunnel, Asia's longest, achieved a major breakthrough on June 9, 2026, and is expected to open to the public in February 2028. The proposal aims to commemorate national heritage and promote integration between Kashmir and Ladakh.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposing that the two portals of the Zojila Tunnel be named after two historical figures: Brigadier Mohammed Usman, known as the Lion of Naushera for his valor in the 1947-48 Indo-Pak War, and Samrat Lalitaditya Muktapida, an 8th-century ruler of the Karkota dynasty of Kashmir. The tunnel, a ₹6,800-crore infrastructure project connecting the Kashmir Valley to Ladakh, achieved a significant breakthrough on June 9, 2026, when Union Minister Nitin Gadkari performed the final blasting, breaking through the last 2.5 meters of the 13-km high-altitude tunnel constructed at 11,578 feet above sea level. Raut suggested naming the Sonamarg/Kashmir portal after Brigadier Usman and the Drass/Ladakh portal after Samrat Lalitaditya Muktapida. According to Raut, this naming would honor both the military valor of those who defended the nation and Kashmir's rich historical legacy, while conveying a message of national integration and unity in diversity. The tunnel is expected to be opened to the public in February 2028 and will provide all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh while strengthening national security and promoting economic opportunities.
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- The HinduCenter
Name Zojila Tunnel portals after 1947-48 Indo-Pak war hero and 8th century Kashmir ruler: Raut
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