Project to ensure all weather connectivity to Sonamarg
TDD Correspondent
Srinagar, (TDD) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Jammu and Kashmir on January 13 to inaugurate the Z-Morh tunnel, a landmark infrastructure project that will ensure all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Sonamarg, a popular tourist destination.
Spanning 6.5 kilometers, the tunnel has been constructed along the Srinagar-Leh highway in Ganderbal district at a cost of Rs 2,400 crore. Designed to withstand heavy snowfall and avalanches, it will keep Sonamarg accessible year-round, addressing a long-standing challenge in the region.
This visit marks PM Modi’s first to the Union Territory since the 2024 assembly elections and the formation of a new government. The Z-Morh tunnel is part of the ambitious Zojila tunnel project, which, upon completion, will become India’s longest road tunnel, facilitating all-weather connectivity between Ladakh and the Kashmir Valley.
The project has faced challenges, including a terrorist attack on October 20 last year at one of the construction sites, which tragically claimed the lives of seven workers, including a doctor. Initially planned by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in 2012, it was later re-assigned to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) in collaboration with a private contractor.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah welcomed the development, calling it a turning point for the region. “This vital infrastructure will be a game changer for winter tourism in the Valley,” Abdullah said in a statement.
The Z-Morh tunnel is expected to drive economic growth and bolster tourism by making Sonamarg, one of Kashmir’s key attractions, accessible throughout the year. (TDD)