PM Narendra Modi on Monday, January 13, inaugurated the strategically important Z-Morh Tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. The 6.5-km-long, two-lane tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity between Gagangir and Sonamarg, and will ease summer travel to Ladakh, bypassing landslide and avalanche routes.
This was PM Modi’s first visit to the Union Territory after the Assembly Elections held last year. After inaugurating the Rs 2,700-crore project, Modi went into the tunnel and interacted with the project officials and construction workers. Built at an altitude of 8,652 feet, the Z-Morh tunnel connects Gagangir and Sonamarg, a popular tourist destination.
PM Modi was accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah, Union Territory’s Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, among other leaders.
Tourism Will See A Major Boost In Jammu And Kashmir: Modi
Speaking after the inauguration of the tunnel, PM Modi said, “With the opening of the tunnel here, connectivity will significantly improve and tourism will see a major boost in Jammu and Kashmir. Our Jammu & Kashmir is now becoming a hub of tunnels and high-rise buildings. The world’s tallest tunnel is being built here, and the world’s tallest railroad bridge is being built here, the world’s tallest railways are being built here. The whole world is amazed to see the engineering of our Chenab bridge.”
He added, “Work is going on projects worth more than Rs 42,000 crore. Due to better connectivity, tourists will be able to reach those areas of Jammu & Kashmir which are still unexplored. In the year 2024, more than 2 crore tourists have come to Jammu & Kashmir.”
Tunnel Is A Testimony To The Fact…: Jammu And Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah
CM Abdullah said, “Unfortunately, in the last 35-37 years, thousands of people here sacrificed their lives for the progress of this country, for the development of Jammu and Kashmir…Prime Minister Sahib, your presence here today at the inauguration programme of this tunnel is a testimony to the fact that those people who carry out these attacks, those who don’t want the betterment of this country, those who don’t want to see peace and progress in Jammu and Kashmir, can never succeed. They will always have to face defeat here. We will always defeat them and send them back from here.”
The tunnel will enable the development of Sonamarg resort in Ganderbal district as a winter sports destination, similar to the famous Gulmarg skiing resort town, the CM said.
Along with the Zojila Tunnel, set for completion by 2028, the Sonamarg Tunnel will help in ensuring seamless NH-1 connectivity between Srinagar and Ladakh.
Things You Must Know About The Crucial Z-Morh Tunnel:
Name: Z-Morh Tunnel, named after the Z-shaped road it replaces (‘Z-turn’ in Hindi)
Location: Connects Gagangir and Sonamarg in Ganderbal district, Jammu and Kashmir
Tunnel Dimensions: (a) Length: 6.5 km (b) Approach roads: 6.05 km
Width: 10 meters (two-lane, bi-directional)
Altitude: Positioned at 2,637 meters (8,652 feet) above sea level
Purpose: Provides all-weather access to Sonamarg, replacing the avalanche-prone Z-turn road
Traffic Capacity: Handles up to 1,000 vehicles per hour
Maximum speed: 80 km/h
Escape Tunnel: Includes a parallel 7.5-meter-wide escape tunnel, also usable as a railway tunnel
Construction Method: Built using the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM)
Infrastructure: Equipped with a ventilation system, two portals (Western and Eastern)
Cost: Rs 24 billion project cost
Strategic Importance: Part of the NH1 Srinagar-Leh Highway, among 31 tunnels being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, with a total investment of Rs 2,680 crore
Time Efficiency: Reduces travel time from hours to 15 minutes for the 6.5 km stretch
Safety: Replaces the unsafe, avalanche-prone road, ensuring safer year-round travel
