How Z Morh tunnel robbed China-Pakistan of their sleep; is a game changer for India

PM Modi inaugurate Z-Morh tunnel: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the Z Morh tunnel to the nation on 13 January. Terrorists had also attacked to stop the construction of this tunnel. So, let's know why the Z Morh tunnel is special for India. These are the key points of the inauguration of the Z-Morh tunnel. The Z-Morh tunnel will be an all-weather link between Mir and Ladakh. Ladakh is the union territory with a disputed border between India and the Chinese along the Line of Actual Control.

Why Pakistan and China have lost their sleep due to this Z Morh. Know everything.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to visit Ganderbal in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. This will be PM Modi's first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after the 2024 assembly elections and the formation of an elected government in the Union Territory.

PM Modi is going to inaugurate the 'Z Morh' tunnel here. There is a ruckus in India, Pakistan

PM Modi is going to inaugurate the 'Z Morh' tunnel here. There is a ruckus in India, Pakistan, China including India about this 'Z Morh' tunnel. They attacked. But the work did not stop and on Monday, the country's PM Modi is going to Gandbal for the inauguration of this tunnel, which means that this tunnel is not an ordinary tunnel. So let's know the specialty of the 'Z-Mod' tunnel. What will be the benefit of India from this? Why are China and Pakistan losing sleep?

What is the Z-Mod tunnel?

The tunnel is being constructed in an avalanche-prone area, due to which the road to Sonamarg becomes inaccessible during most of the winter. The tunnel is strategically important as it will provide all-weather connectivity to Sonamarg, a popular tourist destination in Kashmir. The tunnel has been named Z-Mod because of the Z-shaped road at the place where the tunnel is located. The purpose of this tunnel is to improve access between Srinagar to Sonamarg and later to Ladakh. Located at an altitude of over 8,500 feet, this section of the road is particularly vulnerable to winter weather conditions, and the tunnel aims to mitigate these challenges.

Why is the Z-Morh tunnel special for India?

While this tunnel holds strategic and economic importance for both the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh. While its immediate benefit is to ensure year-round access to Sonamarg, it also plays a vital role in connecting Ladakh with the rest of the country. Given Ladakh's proximity to sensitive border areas, the tunnel will provide faster and more reliable access for military personnel. The Zojila tunnel is expected to be completed by December 2026, when its importance will increase further, eventually connecting Sonamarg to Drass in Ladakh, further enhancing the connectivity of the region.

Tunnel work started in 2012

The tunnel work was started by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in 2012, with the project being awarded to Tunnelway Limited. However, it was later taken over by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), which again issued tenders for the project.

6.5 km long tunnel costing Rs 2,400 crore

Although this Z-Morh tunnel is an important strategic infrastructure project in Jammu and Kashmir which PM is going to inaugurate on January 13. The opening of the tunnel will facilitate year-round connectivity between Kashmir Sonamarg and Ladakh. The 6.5 km long tunnel has been built on the Srinagar-Leh highway in Gagangir area of ​​​​Ganderbal district at a cost of Rs 2,400 crore. After the opening of this tunnel, the common people as well as the armed forces of the country are expected to get a big boost. The Z-Morh tunnel has been built on the Srinagar-Leh Highway (NH-1).

Pakistan, China's sleep disturbed?

This project is very important for the Indian Army. The Z-Morh tunnel, combined with the Zojila tunnel project, will ensure faster movement of security forces in Ladakh. According to a report published in The Tribune, the idea of ​​connecting Ladakh with the Kashmir region through the Z-Morh and Zojila tunnels came up after the difficulties faced by the defense in sending supplies to Kargil during the 1999 war. When completed, both the tunnels will provide all-weather connectivity to Ladakh, a region that is often cut off from the rest of the country for months due to heavy snow accumulation.

"India will have geostrategic dominance over Pakistan and China," as it will enable faster movement of troops in the region. He further said that during the 1999 war, the defense forces had to struggle to send supplies and artillery to the forward areas along the Pakistan border. However, with the completion of the Z-Morh and Zojila tunnels, the defense forces will get a strategic advantage, allowing them to quickly deploy heavy artillery in Ladakh.

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Summary

The Z-Morh tunnel will provide year-round and all-weather connectivity between the scenic tourist destination of Sonamarg and the town of Kangan in Ganderbal district. While Sonamarg becomes inaccessible during the winter as the only road link is cut off from Srinagar and the rest of the valley due to heavy snow accumulation. This tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity with Leh after the completion of the Zojila tunnel, which has a deadline of 2028.

The project, originally scheduled to be completed by August 2023, got delayed. It had a soft launch in February 2024, but the official inauguration was delayed due to the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections.