Owais Gull
Srinagar, Jan 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the much-awaited Z-Morh tunnel at Sonamarg.
The Prime Minister inaugurated the tunnel this afternoon along with Union Ministers Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Dr Jitendra Singh, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other officials.
The inauguration of Sonamarg Tunnel was done from the East Portal.
After inauguration, the Prime Minister along with the other Union Ministers and J&K Lt Governor and Chief Minister toured the tunnel. After touring the tunnel, they will directly drive towards the main venue.
Pertinently, the 6.5-kilometer-long Z-Morh Tunnel is poised to make Sonamarg accessible from Srinagar year-round, a feat previously hindered by harsh winter conditions.
Work on the Z-Morh Tunnel began in May 2015 but faced delays after Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS), the initial contractor, ceased operations in 2018 due to financial challenges. The project was subsequently retendered in 2019 and awarded to APCO Infratech in January 2020. The project, originally initiated during the UPA II government, saw its foundation stone laid in October 2012 by C.P. Joshi, then Minister for Surface Transport.
Initially projected to be completed by 2016-2017, the Rs 2,716.90 crore tunnel has now been completed, promising year-round accessibility to Sonamarg and enhancing travel to Leh.
