Source- The Hindu
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Z-Morh tunnel in Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Monday (January 13, 2025).
The inauguration of the tunnel was done from the East Portal, with the entire area under recent snowfall.
Mr. Modi was accompanied by Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other officials.
He toured the tunnel and was briefed about the harsh weather conditions under which the tunnel was constructed by cutting through the mighty Himalayas in the area. The tunnel provided all-weather road to tourist destination of Sonmarg.
Mr. Modi landed at the Srinagar airport at around 10.45 a.m. and went to Sonamarg for the inauguration of the strategic tunnel that is important from the defence perspective as well, officials said.
Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari reached Srinagar on Sunday (January 12, 2025) for the function.
The two-lane bi-directional road tunnel between Gagangir and Sonamarg in Ganderbal district in central Kashmir has been built at a cost of over ₹2,700 crore.
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It is equipped with a parallel 7.5-metre-wide escape passage for emergencies.
Situated at an altitude of over 8,650 feet above sea level, the tunnel will enhance all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Sonamarg en route to Leh, bypassing landslide and avalanche routes.
Mr. Modi, who is on his first visit to J&K post the conduct of the assembly elections in September-October last year, is scheduled to meet the construction workers who have worked meticulously amid harsh conditions in an acknowledgement of their contribution to this engineering feat.
Agencies
