Z-Morh Tunnel – Information & Update

6.412 km Z-Morh Tunnel by NHIDCL is an under construction 2 lane road project between Kangan and Sonamarg on the Srinagar – Leh Highway in Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Z Morh Tunnel project by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) aims to ensure all-weather connectivity between Srinagar, Sonamarg and Kargil in Ladakh. In addition to the main tunnel, it includes a parallel 6.426 km long Escape Tunnel and 0.6 km long Ventilation Tunnel.

The project’s foundation stone was laid in 2012. It was originally owned by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) which awarded its civil construction to Srinagar-Sonamarg Tunnelway Ltd., an Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) owned company.

NHIDCL in 2019 re-tendered the project’s construction contract and awarded its contract to APCO Infratech which is executing the project under APCO Shri Amarnathji Tunnelway Pvt. Ltd. (ASATPL)

Current Status

Z-Morh Tunnel is planned to be opened for vehicles on or by September 15, 2024. No toll tax will be collected from vehicles using the tunnel.

Z-Morh Tunnel was soft-opened in February 2024 beyond its construction deadline of August 2023. Construction via the NATM tunneling method was originally estimated to cost Rs. 2378 crore.

Mining & excavation work for the tunnel was completed in June 2021.

Location

Z-morh Tunnel is located between Kangan and Sonamarg on the Srinagar-Leh Highway in Jammu and Kashmir. Along with the 14.15 km Zojila Tunnel to its east, it aims to enhance the Indian military’s capabilities in Kashmir and Ladakh along both the Line of Control (LOC) to the north and the Line of Actual Control (LAC) further east.

Page last updated: August 27, 2024. Have a question or spot an error? Let me know here.