Z-Morh tunnel: Thousands brave winter chill to attend inauguration by PM Modi in Sonamarg

Sonamarg, January 13: Thousands of people braved freezing temperatures to gather in Sonamarg for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public address, marking the inauguration of the much-anticipated Z-Morh Tunnel project.

Since early morning, hundreds of SRTC buses and private vehicles ferried attendees to the venue in sub-zero temperatures. The event’s location, near the Gagengar area in Sonamarg, was adorned with massive hoardings, colorful banners, and posters to welcome the Prime Minister.

The Z-Morh Tunnel, a strategic 6.5 km-long infrastructure near Sonamarg in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, has been completed at an altitude of over 8,650 feet above sea level. It will provide year-round connectivity between Srinagar and Sonamarg, bypassing landslide-prone and avalanche zones, and ensuring safer access to Ladakh. The tunnel is also expected to boost tourism, transforming Sonamarg into a year-round destination for winter sports and local economic development.

Top officials from the civil and police administration have been stationed in Sonamarg to oversee arrangements for the high-profile visit. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh were among the dignitaries scheduled to attend the inauguration.

The Prime Minister is expected to arrive around 11:45 AM, visit the tunnel, and later address the public. He will also meet with construction workers and engineers who worked under challenging conditions, acknowledging their role in achieving this engineering milestone.

The Z-Morh project, constructed at a cost of over ₹2,700 crore, comprises the main tunnel, an egress tunnel, and approach roads. This is PM Modi’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since an elected government took office in the Union Territory in October last year.