Sonamarg, January 13: Thousands of people gathered in this stunning village of Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Monday, enduring chilling temperatures to witness the inauguration of the 6.5-km Z-Morh tunnel by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Early in the morning, attendees began arriving at the site of Modi’s public meeting, eager to see the realization of a major project aimed at transforming the Sonamarg hill resort along the Srinagar-Leh national highway into an all-weather destination.
Notable figures in attendance included Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Jitendra Singh, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. This marked Modi’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since the formation of the Abdullah-led National Conference government in October of the previous year.
Upon his arrival, dressed in a hooded waterproof black jacket, Modi inaugurated the tunnel with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting, celebrated by enthusiastic cheers and slogans from the crowd.
Residents from surrounding villages such as Sonamarg, Kullan, Gagangir, Gund, and Kangan flocked to the venue for the occasion.
Construction of the Z-Morh tunnel commenced in May 2015. The project faced significant delays due to the previous concessionaire, Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS), halting work in 2018 amid financial difficulties. The project was re-tendered in 2019 and awarded to APCO Infratech in January 2020, which submitted the lowest bid.
The foundation stone for the ₹2,716.90 crore project was laid in October 2012 by C.P. Joshi, then Minister for Surface Transport during the UPA II government, with notable attendance from Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. The tunnel was originally anticipated to be completed by 2016-2017.
Local residents expressed their excitement, calling the tunnel a game-changer for the tourism sector, a crucial component of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy.
“We are thrilled that our Prime Minister inaugurated this tunnel. It will provide year-round access to Sonamarg, significantly benefiting the tourism industry. This is good news for everyone,” said Haji Wazir Mohammad, a resident of Kangan. He reminisced about the days when walking from Gagangir to Sonamarg was the only option.
His neighbor, Noor Ahmad Kasana, shared his enthusiasm for the Z-Morh tunnel, now officially named the Sonamarg Tunnel, and expressed pride that PM Modi was inaugurating it.
“Look at this crowd! We are overjoyed. We have prepared for this moment for days and celebrated in our homes,” Kasana stated while braving the cold since 6 AM to witness the historic event.
Commending Modi for driving rapid development in the Union Territory, Kasana mentioned the tunnel’s potential to bolster tourism and create more job opportunities for the youth.
“This tunnel is a major boost for us. Sonamarg was often cut off for three to four months each year due to heavy snowfall, but now our businesses will thrive, and tourist numbers will rise, providing better livelihood for our families,” he explained.
Located at an elevation of over 8,650 feet above sea level, the tunnel will offer all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Sonamarg, avoiding landslide and avalanche-prone areas, ensuring safer access to the strategically important Ladakh region.
Another local, Riyaz Ahmad, expressed his happiness at being present for this historic occasion.
“We are very excited… this area would be snowbound for six months in winter, isolating us from Sonamarg, but that will soon change. More tourists will come here, and we thank the Prime Minister for this incredible gift,” he said, beaming with joy.
