Owais Gul
Srinagar, Jan 13: Amidst the tight security arrangements, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the much-awaited Sonamarg Tunnel in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
The inauguration was done from the East Portal.
Union Ministers Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Dr Jitendra Singh, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
After inauguration, the Prime Minister along with the other leaders and officials toured the tunnel.
The Prime Minister commended the efforts of engineers and construction workers, who worked relentlessly to make Sonamarg Tunnel a reality. He interacted with them and clicked photographs.
Workers also briefed PM Modi about how the tunnel was constructed amid challenges.
Pertinently, the 6.5-kilometer-long Sonamarg Tunnel is poised to make Sonamarg accessible from Srinagar year-round, a feat previously hindered by harsh winter conditions.
Work on the project 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.
