🔊 Take a moment and listen

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Z-Morh tunnel, now known as the Sonamarg tunnel, in the Ganderbal district of Jammu & Kashmir today. The ₹2,700 crore project ensures year-round connectivity to Sonamarg, a major boost for tourism, trade, and local employment. The 6.5 km tunnel, constructed by APCO Infratech under NHIDCL’s supervision, will reduce travel time to 15 minutes, bypassing avalanche-prone areas. This milestone complements the under-construction Zojila Tunnel, which aims to further enhance accessibility to Ladakh.

After arriving at Srinagar’s international airport, the Prime Minister travelled to Neelgrad via helicopter and proceeded to Gagangir for the formal inauguration ceremony. The tunnel, constructed at a cost of ₹2,700 crore by APCO Infratech, was initiated in 2018 under the supervision of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).

The tunnel addresses key challenges in the region by bypassing avalanche-prone sections of the Srinagar-Sonamarg highway, reducing travel time from hours to just 15 minutes. This infrastructure upgrade is expected to stimulate tourism, bolster local businesses, and provide opportunities for employment, especially benefiting the Ladakh region, the Amarnath Yatra, and Sonamarg’s transformation into a ski resort.

Prominent attendees included Union Minister of Surface Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, MoS (PMO) Jitendra Singh, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Addressing a public rally in Sonamarg, PM Modi emphasized the transformative impact of the project, with hundreds of attendees braving the cold to witness the event.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah highlighted the strategic importance of the Sonamarg tunnel, particularly for reducing travel time to Kargil and Leh and making the region more accessible during harsh winters. The project is also expected to curb seasonal migration from the area, offering residents a more stable livelihood.

Adding to the region’s connectivity ambitions, the under-construction Zojila Tunnel is set to complement the Sonamarg tunnel. Once completed, the Zojila Tunnel will ensure safe and potentially year-round access to Ladakh, reinforcing the government’s commitment to improving infrastructure in Jammu & Kashmir.

The project’s completion aligns with India’s broader goals of enhancing infrastructure and ease-of-living in challenging terrains, supporting tourism and economic development in historically underserved regions.

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