Strategically important, Z-Morh tunnel to provide a fillip to tourism
Seven people, including a doctor, were killed in a major attack by militants in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Sunday evening. The militants attacked a construction workers’ camp of a private infrastructure company, which was carrying out the work on the Z-Morh tunnel.
It is a 6.5-km tunnel built on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway near Gagangeer village. The tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity to Sonamarg, a popular tourist destination.
The work on this project, along with Zoji-La tunnel, was being taken up on a war footing as connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh remains suspended during the winter. With these two tunnels, the road will remain open round the year.
An intelligent Traffic Management System, too, has been installed at the Z-Morh tunnel that will make it easier to control the traffic, which will be facilitated through the dedicated escape tunnel.
In 2023, after the visit of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, the government had said, “The area of Z-Morh tunnel is strategically important as its construction will ensure seamless connectivity between Srinagar and Kargil. There will also be considerable reduction in travel time between Srinagar and Leh.”
“This tunnel will promote social and economic development in the entire region. Tourism in Sonamarg will be promoted,” it said.
About the Zoji-La tunnel, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways said the project consisted of construction of a tunnel of 13.153 km and approach roads to a tunnel of 17.030 km. The total project cost of the project is Rs 6,809.69 crore and it would be completed by 2026.
What experts say
Lt Gen Deependra Singh Hooda (retd), former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army’s Northern Command, said the terror groups wanted to show that terrorism was alive in the Valley.
“I think they want to create a narrative that if elections have been held successfully, it doesn’t mean that everything is sorted out,” he said.
