In this image released by PMO on January 13, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the inauguration of the Z-Morh tunnel, in J&K.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who inaugurated the strategic Z-Morh tunnel in Ganderbal’s Sonamarg area on Monday (January 13, 2025), remained non-committal on the timeline to restore Statehood to J&K but said the new network of road and railway lines in the Union Territory (UT) has “already ended door of heart [distance between J&K and Delhi]“.
With snow-capped mountains in the backdrop and freezing weather conditions, PM Modi inaugurated the state-of-art 6.5-kilometer-long tunnel built at a cost of ₹2,700 crore. The tunnel has made tourist hotspot Sonamarg a round-the-year destination in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
Referring to the militant attack of October 20, 2024 that left seven workers dead at the construction site, PM Modi said, “I salute the dedication of workers who braved harsh weather conditions and even risked their lives to complete this project. Seven workers also laid down their lives but the incident did not deter us from our pledge. No worker returned home.”
PM 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. “During snowfall, avalanches and landslides, the road would get closed, hospitals cut-off and essentials difficult to access. However, life will become easy now for locals living here. We started work on the tunnel in 2015 and it’s satisfying to inaugurate it. The tunnel will give new wings to tourism in Sonamarg, which has already seen a quantum jump in tourist footfall,” the PM said.
Describing J&K as a destination with the “distinction of having highest rail and road bridges and rope ways”, PM Modi said, “The engineering of the Chenab bridge has amazed people across the world. Passenger train trials were completed last week on the bridge. The projects of the Chenani-Nashri tunnel, the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway link and the rope ways at the Shankaracharya temple, Shiv Khori temple and Baltal-Amarnath shrine are underway. A ₹42,000-crore connectivity projects are executed in J&K, which include the Katra-Delhi expressway, four national highway projects, two ring roads and 14 Sonamarg-like tunnels. J&K will be the most connected region. Tourists can now even reach untouched destinations.”
Referring to the upgraded connectivity, PM Modi said Viksit Bharat is only possible when all the regions of the country are well developed. “J&K is the crown of the country and has to be beautiful and strong. I assure you Modi will walk the talk. Any hurdle in your dreams will be removed. ‘door of heart’ is already over now. We have to work together to fulfil dreams and have to take pledges together,” he added.
In response to J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s speech, where he referred to the demand of Statehood, PM Modi remained silent on divulging any timeline. “When Modi makes a promise, he fulfils it. Every time has its right time. Right things will take place at the right time,” PM Modi said.
He praised people for contributing to a peaceful Kashmir and “leaving behind the troubled past”. “I congratulate you [people] for strengthening democracy and securing the future, especially of Kashmiri youth. Kashmir is witnessing a new era with hosting of an international marathon, car racing events, winter games and people going out for late-night shopping after forty years. When I met CM Abdullah, he was excited and enthused by the marathon, where he also participated in Srinagar,” he added.
Earlier, J&K CM Abdullah, in his speech, made a case for fulfilling the promise of restoration of Statehood. “On his previous visit to Kashmir on International Yoga Day, PM talked about three promises, which included eliminating the ‘Dil ki door aur Dil ki door [Distance of hearts and distance between Delhi-Srinagar]. People have started trusting you. You [PM Modi] have already fulfilled the promise of holding Assembly elections [in J&K]where no rigging or misuse of official machinery was reported. The credit for this goes to you [PM Modi]your colleagues and the Election Commission of India. However, the third promise of Statehood is yet to be fulfilled. People keep asking me about it, I assure them this promise too will be fulfilled soon where J&K will again be a State in the country,” Mr. Abdullah said.
CM Abdullah recounted the sacrifices made by thousands of people, including his party workers, for democracy and progress of the country. “Prime Minister Sahib, your presence here today at the inauguration program 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,” Mr. Abdullah said.
J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Union Minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari also spoke on the occasion.
“J&K is witnessing a new era of progress and development. PM Modi’s efforts have ended separatists and terrorism. It has become possible after a lot of sacrifice. PM 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. PM Modi has given the people a dignified life. Today, instead of terrorism, tourism is being discussed,” L-G Sinha said. He said Kashmir was brought out of a long dark night to a new light.
Union Minister Gadkari said 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 ‘door of heart’. Soon, Srinagar will be an eight-hour drive from Delhi,” he said.
Published – January 13, 2025 12:52 pm IST
