Z-Morh Tunnel is a road tunnel project and is the first step toward ensuring all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Kargil in Ladakh region of India. The tunnel gets its name from the Z shape of the road that it will replace between Sonamarg and Gagangir. The 6.5 km long road tunnel is being constructed near Gagangir or Gagangair in Ganderbal district of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It has a high strategic importance for India. The tunnel would avoid the regions of snowfall and avalanches. Along with Zoji La tunnel, the Z-Morh tunnel will ensure year-long road connectivity between Srinagar and Kargil which currently remains closed for about seven months due to snow. The tunnel will also benefit social and economic development of region apart from boosting the tourism in Sonmarg region as the area witnesses heavy snowfall during winters. Once all tunnels are put in place, the time to drive from Srinagar to Leh will be reduced and will not require overnight halt at Kargil. The entire stretch will become motorable throughout the year.
Features
Z-Morh tunnel will be two lane bi-directional road tunnel between Gagangir and Sonmarg starting at 69.5 km stone and ending at 81.3 km stone on NH 1.
The tunnel itself is be 6.5 km long, and the length of the approach roads between the tunnel portals and NH 1 will be 6.05 km for both the ends.
The tunnel will be 10 m wide with the 3.5 km wide parallel escape tunnel to be used in emergency, escape tunnel will also act as the railway tunnel.
The tunnel is designed for flow of 1,000 vehicles an hour at an approved maximum speed of 80 km per hour.
The total capital cost of the project was approved at Rs.27.17 billion in 53rd Meeting of PPPAC held in July 2012. This includes Rs.36.48 crore for the cost of land, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities.
The tunnel will help keep the highway open the entire year.
The western portal of the tunnel is located at village Rezan just after Gagangir at and the eastern portal is located at village Shetkari at. There is a ventilation tunnel at Adit between the two portals.
The tunneling is being built using NATM tunneling method in view of fragile Himalayan Geology.
Development & Construction agency
Initially it was USD 450 Million Dollar project being executed under PPP by Srinagar-Sonamarg Tunnelway Limited, an owned company which was also concessionaire for the project. Earlier, the project was envisaged to be implemented by BRO as owner and nodal agency however now it has been transferred to NHIDCL for implementation. ITNL was appointed as EPC contractor which in turn has appointed Apco - Titan as a construction contractor for the project. The work was suspended by construction contractor in July 2018 due to financial stress of concessionaire. Project Authority foreclosed the concession agreement / contract with Srinagar Sonamarg Tunnelway Limited and reinvited the bids for construction of balance work in June 2019.The revised Total Project Cost stands at INR 23.78 BIllion. The work need to be completed in 42 months from the appointed date. August 2019 - Apco Infratech emerged as lowest bidder in the International Bidding Process. December 2019 - Authority issued Letter of Award for the project. For development and construction of this PPP project which is based on Annuity based concession, Apco Infratech has floated project specific Special Purpose Vehicle - Apco Shri Amarnathji Tunnelway Private Limited. January 2019 - Concession Agreement between ASATPL and authority was executed. June 24,2020 is declared as contract start date. Apco Infratech will be executing entire EPC work. M/s Amberg has been appointed as tunnel designer and approach road design work has been given to Transys.
Status updates
Oct 2012: Foundation stone laid. It was decided that BRO will build this tunnel connecting Gagangeer and Sonamarg.
Mar 2013: Letter of award for execution handed over.
May 2015: Work started
July 2018: About 22% work completed but work stalled by the civil contractor due to non payment of bills and severe financial constraint faced by the concessionaire /developer IL&FS Group companies.
October 2018: Government supersede board of IL&FS group entities in view of “financial crisis”
March 2019: IL&FS Group requested authority NHIDCL to foreclose the contract. NHIDCL accepted the request and process of foreclosure initiated.
June 2019: NHIDCL reinvited bid on DBFOT Annuity Basis for selection of new concessionaire and completion of balance work with 1 August 2019 as bid submission date. The revised total project cost is estimated at Rs.23.78 billion.
July 2019: Pre-bid meeting was organised. The Authority expects to award/contract signing by October 2019 and work is scheduled to start from April 2020.
Aug 2019: APCO Infratech wins the contract of INR 2378/- Crore and will develop the tunnel under BOT mode.
Jan 2020: APCO Infratech awarded the 2379 Crore INR contract. Tunnel to be built in 3.5 years.
