PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates Sonamarg Tunnel, Ensuring Year-Round Connectivity to Ladakh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Sonamarg tunnel, formerly known as the Z-Morh tunnel, on Monday. This strategic infrastructural project, located in Jammu and Kashmir, is critical for establishing all-weather connectivity to Ladakh, a key area for both tourism and military purposes.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha were present at the event. The 6.5-km tunnel, constructed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), links Sonamarg with Kangan town in the Ganderbal district of central Kashmir. 

Situated near Gagangir village on the Srinagar-Leh highway, the tunnel ensures uninterrupted access to Sonamarg, a popular tourist destination, even during heavy snowfall in winter. Previously, this route, at an altitude exceeding 8,500 feet, was frequently blocked by snow avalanches, cutting off Sonamarg and Ladakh from the rest of the region during the harsh winter months.

The Sonamarg tunnel, which began as the Z-Morh tunnel project, was initially undertaken by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in 2012. However, after facing setbacks, the project was later transferred to NHIDCL. In 2019, NHIDCL re-tendered the construction contract, awarding it to APCO Infratech, which executed the project under the APCO-Shri Amarnathji Tunnel Private Limited partnership. While the project was originally scheduled for completion in August 2023, it experienced delays.