Srinagar, Jan 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Sonamarg on Monday to officially open the strategically important 6.4-kilometer Z-Morh tunnel in the Ganderbal region of central Kashmir. Officials said on Sunday that all required preparations had been made for his visit.
Around 11 a.m. on Monday, the Prime Minister is expected to land at Srinagar’s technical airport. According to them, he will next be transported by special helicopter to the Sonamarg location to oversee the Z-Morh tunnel’s inaugural event.
Along with other dignitaries, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari will attend the inaugural ceremony.
Shortly after the tunnel’s opening, the Prime Minister will also speak at a public event, meet with the engineers and tunnel construction crew who have persevered under difficult circumstances, and thank them for their contributions to this engineering achievement.
Since an elected administration took office in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in October of last year, this is the PM’s first visit.
“All adequate arrangements have been put in place for the smooth conduct of the event,” officials said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday personally reviewed preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting Sonamarg on Monday.
The SPG, in coordination with J&K Police and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), is working round the clock to ensure the smooth visit of Modi.
In Srinagar and en route to the Ganderbal district, security forces were seen randomly checking vehicles, including two-wheelers, to ensure no untoward incident took place during the prime minister’s visit to Sonamarg.
The Z-Morh Tunnel project has been constructed at a cost of over Rs 2,700 crore. It comprises the Sonamarg main tunnel, an egress tunnel, and approach roads.
It will also promote tourism by transforming Sonamarg into a year-round destination, boosting winter tourism, adventure sports, and local livelihoods.
Situated at an altitude of over 8,650 feet above sea level, it will enhance all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Sonamarg en route to Leh, bypassing landslide and avalanche routes and ensuring safer and uninterrupted access to the strategically critical Ladakh region.
Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport (JKSRTC) has pressed into service about 250 buses to ferry people to the venue.
“Meticulous logistic planning has been executed to manage operation efficiently despite the cold winter condition,” an official said.
Meanwhile, the district administrations at Ganderbal have directed officers at all levels to be available on Sunday despite it being a holiday.
As per an order issued by the Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Ganderbal, all offices within the jurisdiction of District Ganderbal will remain open on January 12, 2025 (Sunday) to ensure better coordination and information sharing.
“All district, sectorial, tehsil, and block-level officers shall also remain available to provide any kind of information when required,” the order reads.
