The Author is Former Director General of Information Systems and A Special Forces Veteran, Indian Army

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Sonamarg Tunnel at Sonamarg, in Jammu and Kashmir on January 13, 2025.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the strategic two-lane bi-directional 6.5 km-long Z-Morh tunnel between Gagangir and Sonamarg in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir on January 13, 2025. Built at a cost of over ₹2,700 crore, the tunnel has made tourist hotspot Sonamarg a round-the-year destination in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district. This road tunnel is constructed under the Thajiwas Glacier. The project included a 10.8m main tunnel, a 7.5m modified horseshoe-shaped escape tunnel, an 8.3m D-shaped ventilation tunnel, and several culverts, with lengths of 110m, 270m and 30m respectively. Debris from the construction work was repurposed for the development of wayside facilities, benefiting the region. In addition to the Z-Morh tunnel another 18 tunnels are being built in Jammu and Kashmir at an estimated cost of ₹25,000 crore.

Prime Minister Modi said the new network of road and railway lines in the Union Territory (UT) has "already ended Dili ki Doori" (distance between J&K and Delhi). Referring to the terrorist attack of October 20 last year that left seven workers dead at the construction site, Modi said, "I salute the dedication of workers who braved harsh weather conditions and even risked their lives to complete this project." Modi further said the Z-Morh tunnel and the upcoming Zojila tunnel, connecting Kashmir with Ladakh, will ease the lives of Kargil and Leh people too. During snowfall, avalanches and landslides, the road is closed, hospitals cut-off and essentials difficult to access. But life will become easy now for locals. The tunnel will give new wings to tourism in Sonamarg, which has already seen a quantum jump in tourist footfall.

In addition to the Z-Morh tunnel, another 18 tunnels are being built in Jammu and Kashmir at an estimated cost of ₹25,000 crore

Modi pointed out J&K having the distinction of highest rail and road bridges and rope ways, engineering marvel of Chenab bridge on which passenger train trials were completed last week; projects of Chenani-Nashri tunnel, Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway link and the rope ways at the Shankaracharya temple, Shiv Khori temple and Baltal-Amarnath shrine are underway. ₹42,000-crore connectivity projects are executed in J&K.

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's speech, where he referred to the demand of Statehood, Prime Minister Modi remained silent on divulging any timeline. "When Modi makes a promise, he fulfils it. Everything has its right time. Right things will take place at the right time," Prime Minister Modi said. Recounted the sacrifices made by thousands of people, including his party workers, for democracy and progress of the country, Abdullah said, "Prime Minister Sahib, your presence here today at the inauguration programme of this tunnel is a testimony to the fact that those people who carry out these attacks, those who don't want the betterment of this country, those who don't want to see peace and progress in J&K, can never succeed. They will always have to face defeat here. We will always defeat them and send them back from here."

Prime Minister Modi said the Z-Morh tunnel and the upcoming Zojila tunnel, connecting Kashmir with Ladakh, will ease the lives of Kargil and Leh people too

J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said, "J&K is witnessing a new era of progress and development. Prime Minister Modi's efforts have ended separatists and terrorism. It has become possible after a lot of sacrifice. Prime Minister Modi's efforts have also taken J&K on the path of progress from agony. Paradise, as written in books about J&K, is rediscovering itself. Prime Minister Modi has given the people a dignified life. Today, instead of terrorism, tourism is being discussed. Kashmir was brought out of a long dark night to a new light."

The Z-Morh tunnel, located on the Srinagar-Sonamarg highway, is a vital infrastructure project; a key milestone in the plan to establish an all-year-round corridor between Kashmir and Ladakh. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, who was also present at the inauguration of the tunnel, said that the Z-Morh tunnel has ended the region's isolation as the road would remain closed for five to six months. "The new roadways projects in J&K, coming up at the cost of around ₹50,000 crores, will end 'Dili ki Doori'. Soon, Srinagar will be an eight-hour drive from Delhi."

The Z-Morh tunnel, located on the Srinagar-Sonamarg highway, is a vital infrastructure project, a key milestone in the plan to establish an all-year-round corridor between Kashmir and Ladakh

At the same time, we need to remember that J&K is a border state bordering Pakistan over difficult terrain. The terrorist attack on October 20, 2024 evening at the construction site of the Z-Morh tunnel was the first time a major infrastructure project in J&K was targeted by terrorists. The Resistance Front (TRF), an affiliate of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack. According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), during 2024 J&K witnessed 61 terrorist incidents. In which 69 terrorists, 26 security personnel and 31 civilians were killed. An unstable Pakistan, under attack by the Taliban, TTP and the Baloch Liberation Army, will continue to foment trouble in J&K.