Unyielding Security Measures Before PM Modi's Visit to Sonamarg
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Srinagar, Jan 11 (NationPress) Just two days prior to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrival to inaugurate the Z-Morh tunnel in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, a formidable security arrangement has been established in the Gagangir and Sonamarg regions as of Saturday.
The locations where PM Modi will unveil the tunnel and conduct public gatherings have been secured by the Special Protection Group (SPG).
Upon arrival at the Neelgrad helipad, PM Modi will proceed to Gagangir for the inauguration of the Z-Morh tunnel, which is set to transform Sonamarg into an all-weather tourist destination.
The initial layers of security are being managed by the Jammu and Kashmir Police along with security forces, while the outermost perimeters, including mountain tops and remote areas, are under the purview of the Army.
Every aspect of PM Modi's safety is meticulously planned. Electronic monitoring, access controls, and drones have been deployed to ensure that the VVIP security remains impeccable.
'No risks are being taken, and even the smallest details regarding PM Modi's security are being meticulously managed,' stated a senior security official.
A significant number of plainclothes policemen have been deployed across Neelgrad, Sonamarg, Gagangir, Gund, Haknar, Sarfraw, and other locations within a 20 km radius of the venues.
Traffic along the Srinagar-Leh road, which traverses through Gagangir and Sonamarg, has been halted for two days.
The Director General of Police for Jammu and Kashmir, Nalin Prabhat, along with IGP Kashmir V. K. Birdi, IGP Security Sujit Kumar, and other senior officials will remain in Sonamarg until PM Modi's visit concludes.
Numerous security drills have already been conducted, and these will continue in real-time until PM Modi arrives.
Present at the Z-Morh tunnel inauguration will be Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Jammu and Kashmir L-G Manoj Sinha, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
This tunnel will bypass a problematic stretch from Gagangir to Sonamarg, which often remains impassable due to heavy snowfall and avalanches during winter.
The Z-Morh Tunnel spans 6.5 km and features a two-lane road connecting Gagangair and Sonamarg in the Ganderbal district. It is named after the Z-shaped road segment it replaces (Z-Morh translates to 'Z-turn' in English).
The previous road was prone to avalanches and could be blocked for months, but the Z-Morh tunnel will provide year-round access to the Sonamarg tourist area. It will allow for a 15-minute journey through the tunnel, in stark contrast to the hours needed to navigate the winding route.
Constructed at a cost of Rs 2400 crore, once operational, the tunnel will facilitate employment opportunities, trade, the Amarnath Yatra, travel to the Ladakh region, and promote year-round tourism in the hill station of Sonamarg.
