Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed his eagerness for his upcoming visit to Sonmarg in Jammu and Kashmir, where he is set to inaugurate the Z-Morh tunnel on January 13. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Modi responded to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s update on the preparations for the event.”
I am eagerly awaiting my visit to Sonmarg, Jammu and Kashmir for the tunnel inauguration. You rightly point out the benefits for tourism and the local economy. Also, loved the aerial pictures and videos!” Modi wrote.
Omar Abdullah had earlier shared his visit to Sonmarg, where he reviewed the preparations for the inauguration. During his visit, Omar inspected the tunnel tubes and interacted with engineers and workers, expressing gratitude for their efforts in completing the critical project.”
Visited Sonmarg today to review preparations for PM @narendramodi ji’s visit on Monday. The inauguration of the Z-Morh tunnel will open Sonmarg to tourism all year round. Sonmarg will now be developed as a great ski resort. The local population will not have to leave in winter, and the travel time to Kargil/Leh from Srinagar will also reduce,” Omar said in his post.
The Z-Morh tunnel, a 6.5-kilometre tunnel located on the Srinagar-Leh highway in Ganderbal district’s Gagangir sector, will provide year-round connectivity between Sonmarg and Kashmir. Built at a cost of ₹24 billion, the tunnel is designed to address the challenges posed by heavy snowfall and severe winters, which often made the road to Sonmarg impassable, especially in avalanche-prone areas.
The completion of the Z-Morh tunnel will be a significant boost for the region’s tourism sector, providing uninterrupted access throughout the year. With the tunnel, travel time between Srinagar and Kargil/Leh will also be reduced, benefiting both locals and tourists.
The project, which began in 2012 under the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), was later taken over by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), who reissued the project tender to ensure timely completion.
