Srinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Z-Morh Tunnel in Sonamarg on Monday, a key infrastructural project ensuring year-round connectivity to Ladakh.

The tunnel has been renamed the Sonamarg Tunnel, reflecting its connection to the popular tourist destination, which will now benefit from all-weather accessibility thanks to this project.

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 inauguration ceremony.

The Prime Minister inspected the 6.5-kilometre-long tunnel and interacted with the workers involved in its construction. Later in the day, he is set to address a public rally in Sonamarg.

Developed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), the tunnel connects Sonamarg with Kangan town in the Ganderbal district of central Kashmir.

The project, originally initiated by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in 2012, was first contracted to Tunnelway Ltd. However, it was subsequently taken over by the NHIDCL.

Constructed near Gagangir village, located along the Srinagar-Leh highway, the tunnel provides crucial all-weather access to Ladakh, a region of strategic and military importance. The stretch where the tunnel lies, situated at an altitude of over 8,500 feet, was previously prone to snow avalanches in winter, which would close the Sonamarg road for much of the season.

In 2019, NHIDCL retendered the project, awarding the contract to APCO Infratech, which completed the construction under APCO-Shri Amarnathji Tunnel Private Limited.

Although the project was expected to be completed by August 2023, it faced delays. A soft-opening of the tunnel occurred in February last year, but its official inauguration was postponed due to Assembly elections.

This vital project is anticipated to significantly boost tourism and improve military logistics in the region.