The crucial Z-Morh tunnel on the Srinagar-Leh highway, which links Gagangir and Sonamarg, will be inaugurated next month in April.
What exactly is the Z-Morh tunnel?
- The Zoji-Morh Tunnel, also known as the Z-Morh Tunnel, is a tunnel under development in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
- The tunnel is being built at a height of 11,578 feet and will provide all-weather access to the Kashmir Valley.
Location
- The Z-Morh tunnel is on National Highway 1D, the only path connecting the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India.
- The tunnel is being built in the Zoji-Morh area, a high-altitude mountain pass on the Srinagar-Leh Highway.
It is under construction
- The Z-Morh tunnel has a length of 6.5 kilometres and is anticipated to cost around Rs. 2,000 crore to complete.
- The tunnel will have a two-lane carriageway and will be built with cutting-edge tunnelling equipment.
- The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited is in charge of carrying out the operation. (NHIDCL).
Significance
- The tunnel is anticipated to provide all-weather connectivity to the Kashmir Valley, which is presently cut off from the rest of India due to heavy snowfall and avalanches during the winter season.
- The tunnel will also save around four hours of travel time between Srinagar and Leh by eliminating the need to traverse the Zoji-Morh pass.
Source: https://m.economictimes.com/industry/transportation/roadways/srinagar-lehs-z-morh-tunnel-to-be-ready-in-april-nitin-gadkari/amp_articleshow/99068304.cms