Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave another gift to Jammu and Kashmir by inaugurating the Z Mod Tunnel in Ganderbal on Monday (January 13, 2025). This tunnel is located on Srinagar-Leh Highway NH-1 and its total length is 6.4 kilometers. This tunnel with all-weather connectivity has double lane, which will connect Srinagar to Sonamarg. This PM Modi said, ‘This is Modi. If he promises, he keeps it.
PM Modi inspected this tunnel which completes the journey of about 3 hours in just 20 minutes. During this, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari were also present. Omar Abdullah praised PM Modi profusely and said that whatever he says, he does it.
#WATCH Sonamarg, Jammu & Kashmir: After inaugurating the Z-Morh tunnel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspects the tunnel.
CM Omar Abdullah, LG Manoj Sinha and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari are also present.
(Source: DD/ANI) #KashmirOnTheRise pic.twitter.com/FbOP7COfzm
— ANI (@ANI) January 13, 2025
During this, PM Modi said that another very old demand of Ladakh of Jammu and Kashmir has been fulfilled today. This will make life much easier for the people of Kargil and Leh along with Sonamarg. He also praised the workers who built the tunnel. The PM said that the workers building the tunnel neither wavered nor returned home. He worked under difficult conditions, risking his life. He also remembered the six workers and one doctor who lost their lives in this project. He was murdered by the terrorists.
The Prime Minister said, “Leaving behind our old difficult days, our Kashmir heaven on earth Getting back my identity of being. Today people are going to Lal Chowk to eat ice cream at night.” He said, “The world is amazed to see the engineering of Chenab Bridge. A trial run of passenger train was also conducted here a few days ago. The projects here are worth more than Rs 42,000 crore, work on which is going on.”
This tunnel is horseshoe shaped. However, before the construction of this tunnel, the road here was in the shape of the English letter ‘Z’. Therefore, the name of the tunnel built there was changed to Z-Morh Tunnel. After the construction of Z Mod Tunnel, the distance of one hour between Gagangir and Sonamarg will now be covered in 15 minutes. At the same time, the time taken to cross this inaccessible hilly area has been reduced to 30 to 45 minutes from 3 to 4 hours.
The speed of trains in the tunnel has been increased from 30 kilometers per hour to 70 kilometers per hour. With the construction of this tunnel, it has become easier to deliver supplies to the soldiers on the China border in all seasons. Along with this in Ladakh and Kargil Tourism can also be promoted will get. Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh are favorite places for tourists not only for seeing snowfall but also for travelling. Due to this, local people will also get employment.
This tunnel was completed in 12 years at a height of 2600 meters i.e. 5652 feet above sea level. In the year 2012, the work of building it was given to Border Road Organization (BRO). However, later the work was handed over to a private company. It has been prepared on PPP model. A total of Rs 2700 crore has been spent in this project. Out of this, Rs 36 crore was spent in land acquisition and infrastructure planning.
This tunnel is built using the New Austrian Tunneling (NAT) method. In this process, along with digging the tunnel, its debris is also removed and the wall of the tunnel is prepared there. Due to this there is no possibility of landslide. Zojila Tunnel being built next to Z Mod Tunnel will be completed in the year 2028. This will provide all-weather connectivity to Baltal (Amarnath Cave), Kargil and Ladakh.
