Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the Z-Morh Tunnel in Sonamarg in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district facilitating all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Sonamarg en route to Leh, bypassing landslide and avalanche routes.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Jammu Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were also present during the inauguration of the 6.5-kilometre-long tunnel.
Speaking during the event, Abdullah said the PM’s presence in the region is a testimony to those who don’t want to see peace and progress in Jammu and Kashmir.
“…Unfortunately, in the last 35-37 years, thousands of people here sacrificed their lives for the progress of this country, for the development of Jammu and Kashmir,” the CM said.
“Prime Minister Sahib, your presence here today at the inauguration program of this tunnel is a testimony to the fact that those people who carry out these attacks, those who don’t want the betterment of this country, those who don’t want to see peace and progress in Jammu and Kashmir, can never succeed. They will always have to face defeat here. We will always defeat them and send them back from here…,” he added.
Following the inauguration, Modi will address a public rally in Sonamarg amid sub-zero temperatures.
The Prime Minister landed at Srinagar airport at around 10:45 am and reached Sonamarg for the inauguration.
The two-lane bi-directional tunnel between Gagangir and Sonamarg has been built at a cost of Rs 2,700 crore and will facilitate easy commute for the military, businessmen, traders, tourists, and locals.
The tunnel road, built at an altitude of 8,652 feet, is equipped with a parallel 7.5 metre-wide escape passage for emergencies.
The foundation stone of the tunnel project was laid during the Congress-laid UPA government in 2012 and the construction work began in 2015. However, the project faced delays after Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS), which initially won the contract, faced financial constraints and ceased the work in 2018. Later, APCO Infratech was awarded the tender in January 2020.
