SRINAGAR, Jan 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Jammu and Kashmir on January 13 to officially inaugurate the Z-Morh tunnel along the Srinagar-Sonamarg route, enhancing Sonamarg’s status as an all-season tourist spot.
According to official sources, the Prime Minister will arrive on January 13 to inaugurate the Z-Morh tunnel, which will offer a new pathway that circumvents the Gagangir to Sonamarg stretch, allowing visitors and residents to access the hill station year-round.
Currently, the road segment between Gagangir and Sonamarg often faces blockages due to heavy snowfall and avalanches each winter.
The Z-Morh Tunnel is a 6.5 km two-lane passage connecting Gagangir and Sonamarg in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, named after the Z-turn road segment it replaces (Z-Morh means “Z-turn” in English).
Previously, the vulnerable road was frequently obstructed for months, but with the Z-Morh tunnel, consistent connectivity to Sonamarg is assured. The tunnel significantly reduces travel time to just 15 minutes, compared to the lengthy journey over the winding road up the hills.
When combined with the nearby Zoji-La Tunnel, this strategically vital tunnel on the Srinagar-Leh Highway will ensure all-year access to Baltal (the Amarnath cave), Kargil, and various locations in the Ladakh region.
This development is expected to bolster military logistics, boost tourism, and stimulate economic growth. Beyond enhancing connectivity to Sonamarg, the tunnel will create job opportunities for local youth and promote tourism-related activities in the region.
It is part of a wider plan encompassing 31 road tunnels, 20 of which are in Jammu and Kashmir and 11 in Ladakh.
Construction of this project commenced in 2018.
Tragically, on October 20, 2024, workers involved in the tunnel’s construction were targeted in a terrorist attack at the Gagangir worker camp, resulting in the deaths of seven civilians, including six non-local workers from the construction company, as well as a local doctor. (Agencies)
