Srinagar, Jan 10: Security has been heightened across Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir in preparation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Z-Morh tunnel in Ganderbal district on January 13.
This will be PM Modi’s first visit to Kashmir since the formation of an elected government in the Union Territory.
A police officer at Police Headquarters told Rising Kashmir that additional security measures have been put in place in Srinagar and surrounding districts ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit.
“A high-level meeting regarding PM Modi’s security arrangements was held in Srinagar, attended by heads of various agencies. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been formulated and will be implemented accordingly,” the officer said.
Additional police and paramilitary forces have been deployed at key locations, with CCTV surveillance, checkpoints, and frisking points set up to address security concerns in Srinagar and nearby areas. “Special Operations Group (SOG) personnel are stationed in the city to monitor any suspicious activities. J&K Police Commandos, along with CRPF personnel, are also positioned around the Z-Morh tunnel, which serves as a key strategic year-round Kashmir-Ladakh corridor,” the official added.
He also mentioned that security checkpoints, or “nakas,” would remain operational along major highways in Srinagar, Ganderbal, and surrounding areas as a precautionary measure to prevent any untoward incidents. “Special teams have been deputed, and they are on alert,” he said. A security assessment of the tunnel project was conducted on January 9, 2024, to ensure comprehensive security measures for the Prime Minister’s visit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Z-Morh tunnel on January 13, marking a milestone in efforts to build a strategic corridor between Kashmir and Ladakh that remains open year-round. The tunnel, located in Ganderbal district, is crucial for keeping the tourist destination of Sonamarg accessible year-round, as snowfall and avalanches previously blocked the route during winter months.
The Z-Morh tunnel, built under the Thajiwas Glacier between Gagangir and Sonamarg, bypasses landslide- and avalanche-prone sections of the road. An intelligent traffic management system will also be installed to better manage vehicle flow. The tunnel will also open up the Thajiwas Glacier and Sindh River for adventure tourism, an official noted.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah welcomed the Z-Morh tunnel project, calling it a “game changer” for the expansion of winter tourism in the valley. “Jammu and Kashmir, especially central Kashmir, looks forward to the inauguration of this vital piece of infrastructure,” he posted on X.
The 6.5-km long, two-lane tunnel was built at a cost of ₹2,680 crore and is part of a strategic access route to Ladakh. The tunnel features a 10.8-meter-wide main tunnel, a modified horseshoe-shaped escape tunnel of 7.5 meters, and a D-shaped ventilation tunnel of 8.3 meters, along with two major culverts and one small culvert.
The project faced a significant setback on October 21 last year when a terrorist attack at the construction site killed seven APCO Infratech workers, including a doctor.
The Z-Morh tunnel connects to the nearby Zojila tunnel, which is under construction and will be Asia’s longest. The Zojila tunnel will cut through the Himalayan range at Zojila Pass and provide an all-weather connection to Kargil in Ladakh. The 13.14-km long tunnel is being built at a cost of ₹6,800 crore, with a horseshoe-shaped, single-tube, two-lane tunnel planned. The Zojila tunnel will significantly reduce travel time between Ganderbal and Kargil, from three hours to just 20 minutes.
“It will reduce travel time from three hours to 20 minutes between Ganderbal and Kargil,” officials said. Ladakh is currently cut off during winter as the Zojila Pass, the only road connecting Kashmir with Ladakh, is closed in December, reopening depending on snow melt at mountain passes. At times, the road remains closed until April.
The Zojila tunnel will have four culverts with a total length of 810 metres, four Nilgrar tunnels with a total length of 4,821 metres, eight cut-and-covers with a total length of 2,350 metres, and three vertical ventilation shafts measuring 500 metres, 391 metres, and 220 metres, respectively.
Security forces posted in Ladakh are highly dependent on this surface connection for the movement of goods and vehicles into the region.
The project site of the Zojila tunnel is located on the existing highway NH-01, which starts from Sonamarg in Jammu and Kashmir and ends at Minimarg in Ladakh, at elevations ranging from 2,700 metres to 3,300 metres. The site falls into seismic zone IV, and all precautionary measures have been taken to safeguard the tunnels, officials added.
Z-Morh Tunnel:
Location: Ganderbal district, Kashmir, under Thajiwas Glacier.
Length: 6.5 km.
Purpose: Provides year-round access to Sonamarg, bypassing avalanche-prone areas.
Key Features:
Main tunnel width: 10.8 meters.
Escape tunnel: 7.5 meters; Ventilation tunnel: 8.3 meters.
Intelligent traffic management system.
Promotes tourism (Thajiwas Glacier, Sindh River).
Cost: ₹2,680 crore.
Zojila Tunnel:
Location: Ganderbal to Drass, Ladakh, under Zojila Pass.
Length: 13.14 km.
Purpose: Provides all-weather connectivity, reducing travel time between Ganderbal and Kargil from 3 hours to 20 minutes.
Key Features:
Horseshoe-shaped, two-lane tunnel.
Includes ventilation shafts, culverts, and Nilgrar tunnels.
Cost: ₹6,800 crore.
Strategic Importance: Ensures year-round access to Ladakh, vital for both civilians and security forces.
