Sonamarg (J&K), Jan 13: In a major infra boost, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the 6.5 km long Z-Morh tunnel, or Sonamarg tunnel, in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district.
Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also attended the inauguration event.
As per reports, PM Modi arrived in Srinagar aboard a special aircraft and landed at the technical area of Srinagar International Airport. From there, he took an Air Force helicopter to Neelgrad in Sonamarg and then traveled by cavalcade to the Gagangir area, where he inaugurated the tunnel.
Notably, the construction of the two-lane tunnel connecting Gagangir and Sonamarg in Ganderbal district had begun in 2018 and it has been built at a cost of over Rs 2,700 crore. It holds important from a defence perspective and will make the Sonamarg tourist resort accessible throughout the year.
It is expected to transform Sonamarg into an all-weather tourist destination, providing employment opportunities for local youth and boosting trade, tourism, and traffic to the Ladakh region, Amarnath Yatra, and local businesses.
