Z-MORH TUNNEL

TAG: GS-1: GEOGRAPHY

THE CONTEXT: On 21^st, 2024, seven workers from APCO Infratech were killed in the militant attack on the strategic Z-Morh tunnel on the Srinagar-Sonamarg highway in Jammu and Kashmir.

EXPLANATION:

What is the Z-Morh tunnel?

• The Z-Morh tunnel is an all-weather connectivity tunnel connecting the Sonamarg health resort with Kangan town in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. 6.4 km tunnel located near Gagangir village in Ganderbal district, connecting Sonamarg and Kangan in central Kashmir.
• The tunnel has acquired its name for the Z-shaped road stretch at the place where the tunnel is being constructed.
• The stretch where the tunnel is under construction is situated at an altitude of over 8,500 feet and is prone to snow avalanches in the winter.
• The tunnel project was originally conceived by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in 2012.
• However, the project was later taken over by the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
• The NHIDCL retendered the tunnel project to APCO Infratech, which executed the project through a special purpose vehicle, APCO-Shri Amarnathji Tunnel Private Limited.
  • The tunnel project is almost complete, its inauguration was delayed by the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in place because of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.

What is significance of the Z-Morh tunnel?

• The Z-Morh tunnel is part of the Zojila tunnel project,which will connect Sonamarg in Kashmir with Drass in Ladakh, is ongoing and expected to finish by December 2026.
• Provides crucial connectivity for Indian defence forces to border areas like Siachen Glacier and Eastern Ladakh, especially given ongoing tensions with China and Pakistan.
• Thus, providing all-weather access to Sonamarg, the tunnel is vital for ensuring year-round connectivity to Ladakh.
• This is particularly important for the movement of military personnel to border areas.
• The Z-Morh tunnel is also important for the success of the Zojila tunnel project, which is situated at an altitude of approximately 12,000 ft.

Source:

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-is-the-z-morh-project-kashmir-attack-9630983/