The Z-Morh Tunnel has significantly boosted tourism in the Sonamarg area of the Ganderbal district, ensuring year-round connectivity and improving local livelihoods. Constructed at a cost of Rs 2,717 crore and spanning 11.98 km, the tunnel has enhanced accessibility and economic activity in the region.
With Sonamarg now accessible throughout the year, local businesses have flourished. Vendors, who previously remained idle during the harsh winter months, can now earn consistently. “We can earn all over the year because of the tunnel. Earlier, we used to sit at home for six months. Now, everyone is getting employment opportunities,” said a local vendor.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Z-Morh Tunnel Project in Sonamarg on January 13, 2025, in the presence of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, J&K LG Manoj Sinha, and former CM Omar Abdullah. Gadkari hailed the project as a “marvel of engineering,” ensuring seamless connectivity between Srinagar and Ladakh.
The tunnel features a 6.4-km bi-directional passage, a parallel escape tunnel for safety, a 3.7-km creeper lane for heavily loaded vehicles, and key approach roads and bridges. Along with the upcoming Zojila Tunnel, set for completion by 2028, it will reduce travel distance from 49 km to 43 km and increase vehicle speed from 30 km/hr to 70 km/hr, improving NH-1 connectivity.
Beyond tourism, the tunnel enhances defense logistics and fosters economic growth and socio-cultural integration across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, cementing its role as a critical infrastructure project.