Sonamarg: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the much-awaited Z-Morh Tunnel, a strategic route on the Srinagar-Sonamarg highway. He also went inside the tunnel and toured it along with union ministers, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, PM Modi paid tribute to the seven workers who lost their lives during the construction of the tunnel and a terrorist attack. “I would like to thank all the brothers who worked under extremely difficult circumstances, risking their lives for the progress of the country and Jammu and Kashmir. Today, I also remember the seven colleagues who sacrificed their lives to make this project a reality,” he said.
The prime minister reminisced about his connection and earlier days of political work in Jammu and Kashmir and said that the government was working day and night to achieve the goal of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.'
"Two days ago, our CM Omar Abdullah posted some pictures of this place on social media. After seeing those pictures, my eagerness to come here among you increased even more,” Modi said. “I have had a long association with this region, having spent time in places like Sonamarg, Gulmarg, and Baramulla, where we would walk for hours in heavy snowfall. But the warmth of the people here always made us forget the cold,” he added.
"Today, I have the opportunity to hand over this long-awaited project to the country. This is another fulfilment of the longstanding demands of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh," Modi said.
The PM also mentioned his recent visit to Jammu, where he laid the foundation stone for the region's railway division and expressed his commitment to furthering the development of Jammu and Kashmir and ensuring better infrastructure for the people. "You can be sure this is Modi. If he makes a promise, he keeps it. There is a time for every work, and the right work is going to be done at the right time," he said.
About the Sonamarg tunnel, Modi said, "The Sonamarg tunnel will make the lives of the people of Sonamarg as well as Kargil and Leh much easier...The construction of the Sonamarg tunnel started in 2015 when our government came to power, and I am happy that the work of this tunnel has been completed by our government only."
"My mantra is always that whatever we start, we will also inaugurate it. This tunnel will give new wings to tourism in this entire area, including Sonamarg. In the coming days, many projects of road and rail connectivity are going to be completed in Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmir is also going to be connected by rail. Hospitals are being built, and colleges are being built. This is the new Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
The prime minister also met the construction workers and engineers, who were engaged in the project and clicked photos with them. On the occasion, locals expressed their opinion, saying the tunnel would boost tourism in the region and generate employment.
Modi also said that development projects, including rails and the construction of tunnels, wouldn't be possible without the support of people. "The credit for this goes to the people of Kashmir. You people have strengthened democracy," he said.
Besides the prime minister, CM Omar, LG Manoj Sinha Modi, and Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India Nitin Gadkari spoke on the occasion.
Thanking PM Modi, CM Omar, Member of Parliament Mian Altaf, and MLA Mehar Ali, locals said that the tunnel would resolve their long-standing connectivity issues. "The region, which earlier remained cut off for over six months due to heavy snowfall, will now have year-round access."
The Z-Morh Tunnel is part of a broader infrastructure push, with 31 tunnels planned—20 in Jammu and Kashmir and 11 in Ladakh. It plays a key role in the larger Zojila tunnel project to ensure all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Ladakh.
The under-construction Zojila tunnel, situated at around 12,000 feet, will link Sonamarg with Drass in Ladakh and is expected to be completed by December 2026. Once operational, it will be critical for military movement, especially during winters when traditional routes remain blocked by snow.
Built at an estimated cost of Rs 27,000 crore, the Z-Morh Tunnel is crucial for maintaining year-round access to Sonamarg, a key stop along the Srinagar-Leh highway. Besides enhancing tourism, the tunnel will also support military operations by improving connectivity for Indian defence forces stationed near the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) border and the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
Modi addresses the public at the venue where people have been ferried in a fleet of State Road Transport Corporation buses.
This is Modi's first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after the UT elected its first government, led by the National Conference.
The PM was flanked by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari; Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Jitendra Singh; Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Ajay Tamta; Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah; Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma; Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi and MP Ghulam Ali. Gadkari, Jitendra Singh, arrived in Srinagar on Sunday evening.
The venue where the PM addressed the public was sealed by the security forces and intelligence agencies a week ago. The Leh-Srinagar highway was closed on Saturday (January 11) up to Monday (January 13) and will be opened after the PM leaves the venue.
CM Omar on Friday evening visited the tunnel and reviewed the preparations for the inauguration. He also posted the pictures and videos on X, which were reposted by the PM, indicating bonhomie on development projects between the two leaders. “The tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity and will promote winter tourism in Sonamarg,” Omar said on Sunday.
Officials said the venue and its adjacent areas were taken over by SPG personnel, while security forces, including Jammu and Kashmir police and other paramilitary forces, maintained a strong security cover and vigil in Ganderbal and other areas.
The Z-Morh tunnel built in the Gagangeer area faced a deadly attack by militants last year in November, where six labourers working on the construction site and a local doctor were killed. Since the attack, the security measures have been strengthened, and more paramilitary forces have been deployed around it.
Features of the tunnel
After 12 years since its conception, the Z-Morh Tunnel on the Srinagar-Sonamarg highway will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi today. The main tunnel stretches approximately 6.4 kilometres with a width of 10 meters and is a horseshoe-shaped, single-tube, bi-directional tunnel suitable for two-way traffic.
There is also a parallel 6.4 km-long, 7.5-meter-wide escape tunnel to ensure safety during emergencies. At a top speed of 80 km/h, the tunnel can handle up to 1,000 cars per hour.
The tunnel, which is around 8,650 feet above sea level, has a cutting-edge longitudinal ventilation system for the best possible air quality. It was built with the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) for increased stability and has emergency communication channels, firefighting apparatus, and contemporary surveillance systems.
Strategic Importance
Named after the Z-shaped road segment where it is constructed, the tunnel offers all-weather connectivity to Sonamarg, a region that typically becomes inaccessible during winter due to heavy snowfall and avalanches. The tunnel will notably enhance accessibility for Indian defence forces stationed in Ladakh, particularly in areas near the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) border and the China-India Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Construction and Timeline
The Z-Morh tunnel project was first conceived by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in 2012 and later handed over to the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). After a re-tendering process, the construction contract was awarded to APCO Infratech, a private firm managing the project through a special purpose vehicle, APCO-Shri Amarnathji Tunnel Private Limited.
Originally slated for completion by August 2023, the tunnel faced delays, postponing its inauguration. A soft launch occurred in February 2024, but the official inauguration was delayed due to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.
Part of a Larger Project
The Z-Morh Tunnel is one of 31 tunnels planned—20 in Jammu and Kashmir and 11 in Ladakh. The tunnel is a crucial component of the extensive Zojila tunnel project, designed to ensure all-weather access from Srinagar to Ladakh. Currently under construction at an elevation of around 12,000 feet, the Zojila tunnel project will link Sonamarg with Drass in Ladakh and is projected for completion by December 2030. Once operational, this tunnel will be vital for military access to the Ladakh region, especially in winter when traditional routes are obstructed by snow.
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