Mon Jan 13 05:08:00 UTC 2025: ## Modi to Inaugurate Z-Morh Tunnel, Ensuring Year-Round Access to Sonamarg

**Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir –** Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 6.5 km Z-Morh Tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district today. The tunnel, built at a cost of Rs 24 billion, will provide all-weather connectivity to the popular tourist destination of Sonamarg, replacing a treacherous, avalanche-prone mountain road.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah recently visited the site, praising the engineers and workers involved in the project. PM Modi expressed his eagerness to inaugurate the tunnel on X (formerly Twitter).

The Z-Morh Tunnel, named for the Z-shaped road it replaces, connects Gagangir and Sonamarg at an altitude of 2,637 meters. Its features include:

* **Two-lane, bi-directional design:** Accommodating up to 1,000 vehicles per hour at speeds up to 80 kmph.
* **Emergency escape tunnel:** A 7.5-meter wide parallel tunnel, also designed for potential future railway use.
* **Advanced construction:** Utilizing the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM).
* **Significant time savings:** Travel time across the 6.5 km stretch is reduced from hours to just 15 minutes.

The tunnel is part of a larger initiative involving 31 tunnels across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, with a total investment of Rs 2,680 crore. This project significantly improves infrastructure and safety in the region, previously hampered by the hazardous conditions of the old route, especially during winter.

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