- विज्ञापन -
Srinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Srinagar on Monday to inaugurate the Z-Morh tunnel, now known as the Sonamarg tunnel, located in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Upon arrival, the PM was transported by an Air Force helicopter to Neelgrad in the Sonamarg area. He will then travel by convoy to Gagangir, where he will officially open the Sonamarg tunnel, which ensures all-weather access to Sonamarg, transforming it into a year-round tourist destination.
The inauguration will be attended by Union Minister for Surface Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, MoS (PMO) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Following the tunnel’s inauguration, PM Modi will address a public rally at a truck yard in Sonamarg, where hundreds of attendees have gathered despite the harsh cold.
This marks PM Modi’s first visit to the union territory since an elected government took office. The Sonamarg tunnel will bypass sections of the Srinagar-Sonamarg highway that are vulnerable to avalanches and heavy snowfall during winter.
The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) oversaw the construction of the Z-Morh tunnel, built by APCO Infratech Private Limited at a cost of Rs 2,700 crore, with work commencing in 2018. This tunnel will enhance Sonamarg’s status as an all-weather tourist spot, boosting local employment and stimulating trade, tourism, and traffic to the Ladakh region, as well as supporting the Amarnath Yatra.
Spanning 6.5 km, the two-lane tunnel connects Gagangir and Sonamarg, significantly reducing travel time from hours to just 15 minutes. The Zojila Tunnel, currently under construction across the Zojila Pass, along with the Z-Morh tunnel, aims to make travel to the Ladakh region safer and more accessible year-round.
On Saturday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited Gagangir to review the preparations for PM Modi’s arrival. He expressed optimism about the tunnel’s inauguration, stating it would promote year-round tourism in Sonamarg, develop it as a ski resort, and reduce travel time to Kargil and Leh from Srinagar. Abdullah shared updates and photos of his visit on X on January 11.
All attention is now on PM Modi as he prepares to dedicate the Sonamarg tunnel to the nation.
