Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Z-Morh Tunnel on January 13. The 6.5km-long tunnel on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway will enable all-weather access to Sonamarg, a popular tourist destination.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will also attend the event.
Special Protection Group (SPG) teams are overseeing security arrangements and will remain stationed there until the inauguration.
Situated at an altitude of 8,652 feet, the Z-Morh Tunnel is a two-lane road tunnel equipped with a parallel 7.5-metre-wide escape tunnel for emergencies.
The tunnel ensures seamless connectivity between Gagangir and Sonamarg and will ease summer travel to Ladakh.
The project costs Rs 2,400 crore under the build-operate-transfer model.
The developer has a 15-year maintenance contract for the tunnel.
Together with the Zojila Tunnel, the Z-Morh A Tunnel will ensure uninterrupted connectivity to the Baltal and Ladakh regions for civilians and military traffic.
Abdullah hailed the tunnel as a “game changer” for the state’s winter tourism.
He said it has the potential to attract visitors to Sonamarg year-round and boost the local economy.
The construction of the tunnel was marred by a tragic incident in October 2024 when six migrant workers and a local doctor were killed in an attack near the construction site.
With its strategic importance and modern features, the tunnel is poised to redefine the region’s tourism and transportation landscape.
According to the General Manager at National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), Harpal Singh, the inauguration of the Z-Morh tunnel has been finalised and the prime minister will arrive on January 13.
Another official Burhan Andrabi told THE WEEK that January 13 or 14 has been fixed for the inauguration of the tunnel.
