It has been less than a month since the Z-Morh tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir’s Sonamarg was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The tunnel is boosting tourism in Sonamarg, ensuring year-round connectivity and revitalising the local economy.
Constructed at a cost of Rs 2,717 crore and spanning 11.98 km, the tunnel has transformed Sonamarg’s prospects by facilitating increased tourist inflows from Srinagar and Ganderbal, even during winter.
The tunnel has also become a major attraction for visitors due to its marvellous design and modern amenities.
A local vendor selling dry fruits and spices said, “The tunnel has ensured year-round tourism, giving us opportunities to earn a livelihood throughout the year. Earlier, we remained idle for almost six months due to heavy snowfall.”
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Nisar Ahmad, a 32-year-old cab driver, remarked, “Last year, Sonamarg remained shut during the winter months. But since the Z-Morh tunnel's inauguration, we can now visit Sonamarg even in winter.”
The tunnel was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on January 13 in the presence of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, J&K LG Manoj Sinha, and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Union Minister for Roadways and Transport, Nitin Gadkari, called the tunnel a “marvel of engineering,” ensuring year-round connectivity between Srinagar and Ladakh.
“This two-way, 6.4-kilometre tunnel features a parallel escape tunnel for enhanced safety. It includes a 3.7 km creeper lane for heavily loaded vehicles, a 4.6 km western approach road, a 0.9 km eastern approach road, two major bridges, and one minor bridge. It exemplifies PM Modi Ji’s vision for Jammu and Kashmir’s world-class mobility network,” Gadkari wrote on X.
The tunnel holds immense strategic importance, not only connecting Kashmir and Ladakh but also providing all-weather access for the Indian armed forces currently facing a standoff with the Chinese PLA in Eastern Ladakh.
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