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Z-Morh tunnel likely to be thrown open by Sep 15

PM Modi or Nitin Gadkari expected to inaugurate 6.5-km tunnel
06:18 AM Aug 03, 2024 IST | Irfan Raina
z morh tunnel likely to be thrown open by sep 15
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Sonamarg, Aug 02:The work on the much-awaited 6.5 km Z-Morh Tunnel being constructed near the Gagangeer area on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway in Ganderbal district is nearing completion and is expected to be thrown open officially by September 15.

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An official said that the work on the Z-Morh Tunnel coming up at a cost of Rs 2378 crore has almost been completed.

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He said that the executing agency has written to the government to take over the tunnel, however, the approval and response from the government is awaited.

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After completion of the tunnel, Sonamarg tourist destination would be accessible around the year for the visitors.

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“Final touches are being provided to the tunnel along with installation of safety measures inside it,” a senior official of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) said. “We are ready with the tunnel and are expecting its inauguration by September 15.”

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Officials said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari is expected to inaugurate the Z-Morh Tunnel.

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They said that any official announcement in this regard is awaited.

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The 6.5-km Z-Morh Tunnel is part of a strategic project and a first step towards ensuring round-the-year connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh.

The Z-Morh Tunnel along with a 5-km approach road is a project worth Rs 2378 crore.

The tunnel is a bi-directional one along with an escape tunnel for any eventuality.

The Z-Morh Tunnel is being developed by APCO Amarnathji Tunnelway Pvt Ltd.

The work on the Z-Morh, which is part of Srinagar Sonamarg Tunnelway (SST), was halted for two years between 2017 and 2019 due to a financial crunch faced by the then main executing agency Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) that later abandoned the work.

The government had to invite bids for the second time for the project on June 24, 2019, with a TPC of Rs 2378.76 crore on a Build Operate Transfer (BOT) annuity basis.

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