Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Jammu and Kashmir on January 13 to inaugurate the much-anticipated Z-Morh Tunnel on the Srinagar-Sonamarg road. The tunnel is expected to transform Sonamarg into an all-weather tourist destination by ensuring year-round access to the picturesque hill station.
Official sources confirmed that the Prime Minister will personally inaugurate the 6.5-km, two-lane tunnel, which bypasses the avalanche-prone Gagangir-Sonamarg stretch that often remains blocked for months due to heavy snowfall and avalanches. Named after the Z-shaped stretch of road it replaces, the Z-Morh Tunnel significantly reduces travel time, taking only 15 minutes compared to the hours-long journey on the old zigzag road.
This engineering marvel is not just a boon for tourism but also enhances military logistics and connectivity to key geostrategic locations such as Baltal, Kargil, and Ladakh. The Z-Morh Tunnel, along with the under-construction Zoji-La Tunnel, forms a critical part of the Srinagar-Leh Highway project, ensuring weather-proof connectivity to the Ladakh region and improving accessibility to the Amarnath Cave pilgrimage route.
Beyond connectivity, the project is poised to stimulate the local economy by creating employment opportunities for youth and boosting tourism and allied activities in the area. The tunnel is one of 31 road tunnels planned in the region—20 in Jammu and Kashmir and 11 in Ladakh. Construction of the Z-Morh Tunnel began in 2018, and its completion marks a significant milestone in infrastructure development for the region.
However, the project also faced challenges, including a terror attack on October 20, 2024, when militants targeted a workers’ camp at Gagangir. The attack claimed the lives of seven civilians, including six non-local workers and a local doctor. The inauguration of the Z-Morh Tunnel underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing connectivity, boosting tourism, and fortifying the region’s strategic infrastructure.
