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What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
SRINAGAR/SONAMARG: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Sonamarg in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Monday to inaugurate the much-awaited Z-Morh Tunnel, marking a significant milestone for all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh.
In light of the PM’s visit, advanced security arrangements have been implemented in Srinagar and Ganderbal, with senior SPG and J&K Police officials stationed in Sonamarg. For safety, roads connecting Ganderbal to Zojila have been shut to public traffic from Saturday to Monday.
Ahead of the PM’s visit, Ganderbal-Zojila roads have been closed for public use. The Special Protection Group (SPG) has taken over key locations where PM Modi will attend the inauguration and address gatherings.
The multi-layered security arrangements involve the Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces, with the Army guarding distant areas, including mountain ranges. Advanced measures like electronic surveillance, drones, and access control systems are in place to ensure flawless protection.
PM Modi will arrive at Srinagar Technical Airport, where top J&K officials, BJP J&K Unit President Sat Sharma, and other party leaders will welcome him.
From Srinagar Technical Airport, he will take a helicopter to Sonamarg. He will arrive at Neelgrath helipad before proceeding to Gagangir to unveil the 6.5-km tunnel, followed by a public address at the Truck Yard Sonamarg – his first public interaction in the region since J&K’s elected government was formed last October.
J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, CM Omar Abdullah, Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Dr Jitendra Singh, J&K Ministers and senior officials from Central and UT administration will join the event. PM Modi is also expected to meet and thank the tunnel construction workers and engineers for their dedication under challenging conditions.
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The Z-Morh Tunnel bypasses avalanche-prone areas and provides year-round access to the picturesque Sonamarg, previously cut off during winters.
While talking to The New Indian, prominent J&K hotelier and industrialist Mushtaq Chaya called the project a “game-changer,” unlocking economic growth and year-round tourism for Sonamarg. He urged the PM and J&K administration to introduce a cable car facility, enhancing the hill station’s appeal further.
Built at a cost of ₹2,680 crore, the 6.5-km two-lane tunnel is a key feature of the strategic access route to Ladakh. The main tunnel is 10.8 metres long, with a modified horseshoe-shaped escape tunnel of 7.5 metres, a D-shaped ventilation tunnel of 8.3 metres, two major culverts of 110 metres and 270 metres in length, and one small culvert of 30 metres.
The tunnel’s advanced design features state-of-the-art traffic management, fire detection, and variable speed control systems, ensuring smooth vehicle movement and boosting Thajiwas Glacier and Sindh River adventure tourism.
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The Z-Morh Tunnel project, initially launched by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in 2012, was later transferred to NHIDCL. After retendering in 2019, the contract was awarded to APCO Infratech under APCO-Shri Amarnathji Tunnel Private Limited.
Although the project was slated for completion by August 2023, delays occurred despite a soft opening in February last year. The inauguration was further postponed due to UT Assembly elections and the enforcement of the model code of conduct.
The Z-Morh Tunnel also paves the way for the under-construction Zojila Tunnel, Asia’s longest, stretching 13.14 km through the Himalayan range at a cost of ₹6,800 crore. A 7.57 metre-long horseshoe-shaped single-tube, the two-lane tunnel will pass under the Zojila Pass between Ganderbal in Kashmir and Drass town in Kargil.
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The Zojila Tunnel will drastically cut travel time between Ganderbal and Kargil from three hours to just 20 minutes, ensuring Ladakh’s year-round connectivity. Ladakh is currently cut off during winter, as the Zojila Pass, the only road connecting Kashmir with Ladakh, is closed in December. Its reopening depends on the melting of snow at mountain passes along its route. At times, the road would stay closed until April.
The Zojila tunnel will have four culverts with a total length of 810 metres, four Nilgrar tunnels with a total length of 4,821 metres, eight cut-and-covers with a total length of 2,350 metres and three vertical ventilation shafts measuring 500 metres, 391 metres and 220 metres respectively.
Officials said the project is vital for moving goods and troops in Ladakh, a region heavily reliant on this corridor. With seismic safety measures in place, the NH-01 highway tunnels promise reliable access between Sonamarg in J&K and Minimarg in Ladakh.
