Context:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the strategic Z-Morh tunnel connecting Kashmir and Ladakh on January 13.
Key Highlights:
- Location
- The tunnel is located in Ganderbal district and is crucial for maintaining Sonamarg, a popular winter tourist destination.
- Strategical Significance
- The road to Sonamarg, part of the Zojila tunnel project, is impassable due to snow avalanches, making it crucial for all-weather connectivity to Ladakh, allowing quick access for military personnel.
- Tunnel built under Thajiwas Glacier avoids landslide-and avalanche-prone pockets of road.
- Status
- The Z-Morh will lead towards Asia’s longest tunnel, the Zojila tunnel, which will cut through the Himalayan range at Zojila Pass to reach the Kargil district in Ladakh.
