Mon Jan 13 16:30:12 UTC 2025: ## Sonamarg Tunnel Opens Up Kashmir’s Tourism Potential

**Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir –** Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the long-awaited Sonamarg tunnel on Monday, a project hailed as an economic game-changer for the region. The 6.4 km, double-lane tunnel, built at a cost of Rs 2,700 crore, bypasses the avalanche-prone Gagangir-Sonamarg stretch of the Srinagar-Sonamarg road. This will provide year-round access to the popular tourist destination of Sonamarg, previously inaccessible during harsh winter months.

The tunnel, situated at 8,562 feet above sea level, eliminates the need for residents of Sonamarg and Neelgrad villages to migrate during winter. Furthermore, it is expected to transform Sonamarg into a world-class ski resort, rivaling Gulmarg, thanks to its high-altitude slopes and abundant snowfall.

The project is expected to create numerous employment opportunities for locals, providing year-round work for pony wallahs, sledge operators, and tour and travel businesses, significantly boosting the local economy through increased tourism and trade. The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), with APCO Infratech Private Ltd as the contractor, oversaw the construction.

The completion of the Sonamarg tunnel is a significant step towards improving connectivity in the region. The upcoming Zojila tunnel, expected to be completed by 2028, will further enhance accessibility by providing all-weather access from Sonamarg to Dras in the Kargil district. This improved connectivity is crucial given the strategic importance of National Highway-1, which links Kashmir and Ladakh and has historical significance, notably its vulnerability during the 1999 Kargil conflict.

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