x

Like our Facebook Page

   
Early Times Newspaper Jammu, Leading Newspaper Jammu
 
Breaking News :   Tawi Riverfront To Enrich Jammu’s Heritage | Why future-focused education must align with fast-changing job markets | Suryaputri Tawi Aarti - Reviving & resurrecting the sacred identity & Glory | Strong Message | Rotary Club Jammu Elite Celebrates Annapurna Day with Spirit of Service | Srinagar man charged with using fake medical papers to get job at SKIMS Bemina | Multiple theft cases cracked by Jammu police, arrests 13 accused, recovers stolen property worth over Rs 27 lakh | Search operation underway in Kishtwar | FICCI FLO hosts financial literacy camp | After eliminating Saifullah, security forces intensify anti-terror operations in Kishtwar | Arrested Lashkar-linked PoJK guide trying to dodge investigating agencies | Doubling of Aluabari Road-Thakurganj Section Sanctioned under Northeast Frontier Railway | Satish Sharma highlights direct selling as catalyst for economic growth, youth empowerment | Jammu police tightens noose around drug peddlers | Yogi Cabinet approves Uttar Pradesh Rozgar Mission | Jammu shocked as Rohingyas now turn to street crime | Amarnath Yatra commences, 12, 348 devotees pay obeisance | Travel in designated convoys: Kashmir Police to pilgrims | Union Minister Karandlaje joins yatris | Art 3 empowers Parliament to create new States without dissolving Assembly: Rattan Lal | Fuel ban on overage vehicles not feasible due to tech challenges, complex systems: Delhi govt | Justice Sanjeev Kumar inaugurates Legal Aid Clinic & Free Medical Camp | Army pays rich tribute to 'Naushera Ka Sher' Brig Usman, wreath laid at his grave in Delhi | J&K ACB presents charge-sheet against ex-ZEO Tangdhar, other officials | HC quashes detention under PITNDPS of two ladies | Centre to set up clean plant facility to provide disease-resistant plants | PM Modi becomes India's most globally honored leader with 24 International Awards: Rohiin Chandan | Langer Sewa by JCMS continues for 3rd day | DC Budgam chairs meeting to review implementation of PMJVK projects | Two drug peddlers nabbed with 10 grams heroin | KVK Reasi imparts Training on SHGs and Women Empowerment | Div Com flags off first batch of SANJY pilgrims from Baltal | Food Safety Team inspects langars at Base Camp Nunwan, Transit Camp Chandanwari, Pahalgam | Doctors' Day celebrated with Grandeur at Anutham Hotel | Two stolen scooties, cash recovered, four accused arrested | Drug peddler arrested, 2300 intoxicant capsules recovered | Drug peddlers arrested 16 grams of heroin recovered | Secretary MSME reviews industrial growth, MSME ecosystem in Ladakh | Army empowers border youth through Pre-Recruitment training drive | Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist Train will depart for "Shri Ramayana Yatra" on July 25, 2025 from Delhi | Pilgrims to get divine opportunity to visit sacred sites of Lord Shri Ram | Cadet Kumkum Sharma Shines Globally at YEP Vietnam 2025 | Desh Bhagat University signs Historic MoUs with Shobhit University, Gangoh | Pvt school delegation calls on Secretary School Education | Dr Bishwa Nath Tiwari completed 4th time Ironman Championship | MCM DAV College exemplifies fusion of Vedic Wisdom with 21st Century Learning | GGM Sc College faculty visits ELTE - Lorand Eotvos University, Budapest | Chenab Times Foundation to host Essay Writing Competition | Summer camp begins at GDC Darhal | Deepti Sharma credits long training period ahead of England tour for positive results | Back Issues  
 
news details
Ganderbal Residents hope Z-Morh Tunnel will Boost Tourism
1/12/2025 9:18:53 PM
Early Times Report

SONAMARG, Jan 12: Residents of Ganderbal district, living on either side of the 6.5 kilometre Z-Morh tunnel on Srinagar-Sonamarg highway, are hopeful that the mega-infrastructure project will boost the local economy and help eradicate unemployment in the area.
“It is a good thing that the Z-Morh tunnel will open soon, immensely benefitting the locals. Sonamarg is breathtaking in winter, but the road closure, prevented visitors. We are grateful to the government for this tunnel,” a local shopkeeper, Mohammad Yousuf Shera, said.
Shera believes the year-round connectivity between Srinagar and Sonamarg will elevate the destination’s global appeal.
“Sonamarg will now be famous not only in the country but around the world. I think foreigners will like this place,” he said.
Highlighting the strategic importance, Shera said the tunnel will also benefit armed forces.
“There should be facilities for the soldiers who to defend the country at the borders. The tunnel would facilitate the soldiers in terms of better connectivity,” he added.
The Z-Morh tunnel has reduced travel time between Srinagar and Sonamarg allowing vehicles to travel at speeds of up to 70 kilometer per hour compared to the earlier 30 kilometer per hour on the winding roads. The tunnel has a capacity of handling 1000 vehicles per hour.
The project will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, his first visit to the union territory after the assembly polls.
A local, Shabir Ahmad, said the tunnel ensures year-round accessibility to Sonamarg.
“We are happy that now tourists can come to Sonamarg throughout the year.
Earlier the region remained cut off for four months due to snow. Now, not just Sonamarg but areas like Drass and Kargil will remain connected,” he said.
“People in this area are poor but this tunnel will provide year-round livelihood opportunities now,” he added.
Echoing the sentiment, a tourist guide Fayaz Ahmad Sheikh said the opening of the tunnel will help in addressing the problem of unemployment in the area.
He said that he has been working as a tourist guide here for the past several years.
However, the tourist season was limited to only six months due to road closures caused by snowfall.
Sheikh said the tunnel will bring tourists all year, providing better facilities and more income opportunities for locals.
A group of tourists from Nagpur, who had managed to visit Gagangir on Saturday, lauded the project calling it a great move.
“We are amazed to see that such a beautiful place is in India itself. We have been able to reach here because of this tunnel, otherwise we would have missed this beautiful view,” they said.
“A lot of people are already visiting Kashmir but we will recommend all our friends and family to visit this place at least once,” they added.
The work on the Z-Morh tunnel began in May 2015. It took almost a decade to complete the works as the Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS), the initial concessionaire for executing the project, stopped work in 2018 due to financial stress.
The project was retendered in 2019 and awarded to APCO Infratech in January 2020, which had emerged as the lowest bidder.
The foundation stone for the Rs 2,716.90 crore project was laid in October 2012 by C P Joshi, then Minister for Surface Transport during the UPA II government, in the presence of his then cabinet colleague Farooq Abdullah, then Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.
The tunnel was initially expected to be completed by 2016-2017.
  Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network  
  Comment on this Story  
 
 
 
Early Times Android App
STOCK UPDATE
  
BSE Sensex
NSE Nifty
 
CRICKET UPDATE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Home About Us Top Stories Local News National News Sports News Opinion Editorial ET Cetra Advertise with Us ET E-paper
 
 
J&K RELATED WEBSITES
J&K Govt. Official website
Jammu Kashmir Tourism
JKTDC
Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board
Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board
Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board
UTILITY
Train Enquiry
IRCTC
Matavaishnodevi
BSNL
Jammu Kashmir Bank
State Bank of India
PUBLIC INTEREST
Passport Department
Income Tax Department
JK CAMPA
JK GAD
IT Education
Web Site Design Services
EDUCATION
Jammu University
Jammu University Results
JKBOSE
Kashmir University
IGNOU Jammu Center
SMVDU