SRINAGAR: The Z-Morh tunnel in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 13, 2025.The 6.5 km long tunnel will now ensure smooth and unhindered travel from Gagangir to Sonamarg during summer. The soft opening of the tunnel was earlier done in February 2024.
The ₹2,400 crore Z-Morh tunnel is located on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway. Indeed, it is an infrastructural change to the region. According to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, the "engineering marvel" will result in all-weather access to strategically important Ladakh.
The two-lane tunnel will be located at an altitude of 8,650 feet and has a parallel 7.5-meter-wide escape passage in case of emergencies. It will avoid landslide-prone areas, which will ensure that civilian and military traffic have safe and uninterrupted access to Ladakh. The tunnel can take up to 1,000 vehicles per hour and allows a speed of 70 kilometers per hour, up from the earlier 30 kilometers per hour on winding roads.
The opening of the Z-Morh Tunnel marks an important milestone in infrastructural development for Jammu and Kashmir because it better connects Ladakh, an area of strategic importance. The tunnel will provide full access to Sonamarg all year and provide a boost to tourism. It will kick-start economic development and improvement in the locals' livelihoods. The project underlines not only the government's commitment toward creating key infrastructure but also very much aims at making the area a thriving focal point for tourism and commerce.
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