Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Jammu and Kashmir on January 13, where he will inaugurate the Z-Morh Tunnel on the Srinagar-Sonamarg road. This tunnel is expected to transform Sonamarg into an all-weather tourist destination.
According to official sources, the Prime Minister will physically inaugurate the Z-Morh Tunnel, which will bypass the road from Gagangir to Sonamarg, allowing both locals and visitors to access the hill station throughout the year. Currently, the Gagangir-Sonamarg stretch of the road is often blocked due to heavy snowfall and avalanches.
The Z-Morh Tunnel is a 6.5-kilometer-long, two-lane road tunnel located between Gagangir and Sonamarg in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir. It is named after the Z-shaped stretch of road that the tunnel replaces (Z-Morh translates to “Z-turn” in English). The previous road was prone to avalanches and could be blocked for several months, but the Z-Morh Tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity to the tourist town of Sonamarg. Traveling through the tunnel takes only 15 minutes, compared to several hours on the winding road.
Along with the adjacent Zoji-La Tunnel, this strategically important tunnel on the Srinagar-Leh Highway will ensure year-round weather-proof connectivity to Baltal (the Amarnath cave), Kargil, and other locations in the Ladakh region.
The tunnel will also enhance military logistics and boost tourism and the local economy. In addition to providing all-weather access to Sonamarg, the tunnel is expected to create job opportunities for local youth and promote tourism-related activities in the area. It is one of 31 road tunnels being constructed, with 20 in Jammu and Kashmir and 11 in Ladakh.
Construction of the tunnel began in 2018. However, the project faced challenges, including a terrorist attack on October 20, 2024, when two terrorists entered the workers’ camp at Gagangir and opened fire indiscriminately, resulting in the deaths of seven civilians, including six non-local workers involved in the tunnel’s construction, as well as a local doctor.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit and the inauguration of the Z-Morh Tunnel are expected to significantly contribute to the development and tourism potential of Jammu and Kashmir.
