Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Sonamarg tunnel in Kashmir on Monday. He dedicated the Rs 2,700 crore project to the nation after personally inspecting the site. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah attended the event.
PM Modi interacted with engineers and workers involved in the tunnel’s construction. He praised their hard work in completing the project despite challenging weather and terrain. The Prime Minister also gathered technical details about the tunnel, which will provide all-weather connectivity to the region.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi arrived at Srinagar International Airport in a special aircraft. From there, he boarded an Air Force helicopter to Neelgrad. After landing at the Neelgrad helipad, he traveled in a cavalcade to the Gagangir area to inaugurate the tunnel.
The Sonamarg tunnel bypasses a dangerous stretch of the Srinagar-Sonamarg highway prone to avalanches and heavy snowfall. The 6.5 km, two-lane road tunnel connects Gagangair to Sonamarg in Jammu and Kashmir. Built by APCO Infratech Private Limited under the supervision of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), it reduces travel time through the zigzag mountain road to just 15 minutes.
The tunnel transforms Sonamarg into an all-weather tourist destination. It promises to boost tourism, trade, and traffic to the Ladakh region, Amarnath Yatra, and local businesses. The project also provides significant employment opportunities for local youth.
The Sonamarg tunnel, earlier called the Z-Morh tunnel due to its replacement of a Z-shaped road stretch, complements the under-construction Zojila Tunnel. Together, these projects will ensure safer and year-round connectivity to Ladakh.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the site earlier to review preparations for PM Modi’s visit. He expressed enthusiasm for the project’s potential to develop Sonamarg into a premier ski resort and reduce travel time to Kargil and Leh.
Hundreds of people braved the cold to attend PM Modi’s rally at Sonamarg, marking his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after the formation of an elected government in the union territory.
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