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J&K’s Z-Morh Tunnel opens job, economic growth opportunities

ByAshiq Hussain, Srinagar
Jan 13, 2025 02:49 PM IST

Round-the-year connectivity of the Srinagar-Leh national highway will be a gamechanger for residents of upper Ganderbal which is why many braved sub-zero temperatures for hours to listen to PM Modi’s address. 

The inauguration of the Z-Morh Tunnel at Sonamarg by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday has opened employment opportunities for people of upper Ganderbal, who would otherwise be cut off from the rest of Kashmir during the four winter months.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah during a public meeting at Sonamarg in Ganderbal district on Monday. (PTI Photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah during a public meeting at Sonamarg in Ganderbal district on Monday. (PTI Photo)

Besides providing strategic accessibility to defence forces, the round-the-year connectivity of the Srinagar-Leh national highway will be a gamechanger for residents of the area which is why many braved the sub-zero temperatures for hours to listen to Modi at the gathering.

An enthusiastic youngster, Mumtaz Awan, 24, said he left home early on Monday morning to attend Modi’s rally. “With the tunnel’s inauguration, the highway will be opened through the year and will bring in more employment opportunities. Otherwise, we would sit idle during winter,” said Awan, who is associated with the tourism sector as he provides skiing and horse-riding facilities to visitors. “The tunnel will bring more tourists so hoteliers and others associated with the sector will benefit,” he said.

Women gathered in large numbers at the venue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public meeting at Sonamarg in Ganderbal district on Monday. (PTI Photo)
Women gathered in large numbers at the venue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public meeting at Sonamarg in Ganderbal district on Monday. (PTI Photo)

Built at an altitude of 8,500 feet, the 6.5-km tunnel at Gagangir is located 10km ahead of the tourist resort of Sonamarg in central Kashmir. Another 14.15-km Zojila Tunnel, being constructed some distance away from Z-Morh, will make the strategic Srinagar-Sonamarg-Leh highway an all-weather road.

Noor Ahmad Kasana, a local labourer, said: “Now, all 12 months will be productive. We used to be isolated from the rest of the Valley in winter. Besides job opportunities, this will help in terms of patient care and connectivity.”

Haji Wazir Mohammad, the chairman of the Labour and Pony Walla Association for Amarnath Yatra, said that the district would now benefit economically.

Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha said that the tunnel was a game changer. “Sonamarg tunnel is the ‘Bhagya Rekha’ (lifeline) for J&K, enabling year-round connectivity to the picturesque Sonamarg. It will be a game-changer for the local economy, winter tourism and also create new avenues of livelihood & trade in the region,” he said at the rally.

Chief minister Omar Abdullah was hopeful of increase in tourist numbers in Sonamarg. On Sunday, he had said that the inauguration of the Z Morh tunnel will help develop Sonamarg as winter sports destination. “Our attempt would be that like we made Gulmarg a winter sports destination, in coming five years we will prepare Sonamarg as a winter sports destination” he said.

Being completed after the work began 12 years ago, the Z-Morh Tunnel is equipped with intelligent traffic management system and comprises the main tunnel, parallel escape tunnel and a ventilation tunnel. The tunnel was completed in October last year, however, a terror strike on the campsite that left six workers dead delayed the inauguration.

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