Ganderbal: Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate 6.5 km Z-Morh tunnel tomorrow for which preparations are underway in Sonamarg area of Central Kashmir's Ganderbal district.

The 6.5 km Z-Morh tunnel between Gagangir and Sonamarg on the Srinagar-Leh highway will provide connectivity throughout the year.

Official sources said that the APCO company workers along with its officials have been working for the last four days to hold the function for which the tunnel is also decorated.

Pertinently, the work on the construction of 6.5 KM tunnel between Gagangir and Sonamarg of Ganderbal district was started in the year 2015 after contract was awarded to (APCO) by the Government Of India (GOI).

The 23,79 Cr project is part of the mega road communication project to ensure undisrupted connectivity between Gagangeer and Sonamarg during winter months.

The Government before many years has decided to open the both Sonamarg and SSG Road throughout the year and Road Transport and National Highway authority approved the construction of Tunnels at two places in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir The first tunnel is called Z-Morh Tunnel which is being built from Gagangeer to ShitkadiSonamarg Whose length is 6.5 KM and Construction of this tunnel has been handed over to APCO Infratech company construction agency.

Meanwhile, Zojila Tunnel, being constructed by the Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL), is an under-construction 9.5 m wide, 7.57 m high and 13.145 km long, horseshoe-shaped single-tube, 2 lane road tunnel which passes under the Zojilapass in the Himalayas between Ganderbal of Kashmir (J&K) and Drass town in Kargil district of Ladakh. 

The project comprises of smart tunnel (SCADA) system, constructed using the New Austrian tunneling method and equipped with CCTV, radio control, uninterrupted power supply, ventilation.

The Project consists of 2 small tunnels Nilgrar 1 and Nilgrar 2 which are already completed as on April 10, 2023. 

In the Zojila tunnel, out of 13.145 kms, 5.832km of tunnel excavation is already completed.

In addition, the construction of 3 vertical ventilation shafts is also in place and moving smoothly.

The development in construction work continues unhindered even when the climatic conditions are totally against it and pose a great challenge in carrying out the work. The dedicated workforce of Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd is leaving no stone unturned to make possible the construction of Asia’s longest tunnel road and is committed at ensuring a before time delivery of the engineering masterpiece.