Z-Morh tunnel will help make Sonamarg a winter sports destination like Gulmarg: Omar Abdullah

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the opening of the Z-Morh tunnel will help develop Sonamarg resort in Ganderbal district as a winter sports destination like the famous Gulmarg skiing resort town. “Tomorrow Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Z-Morh tunnel. This will help develop Sonamarg as a winter sports destination,” Abdullah told reporters in Gulmarg, 52 km from here. The Prime Minister will inaugurate the 6.5 km long Z-Morh tunnel, which will provide all-year round connectivity to Sonamarg town. Abdullah is in the picturesque town of Gulmarg in north Kashmir to promote winter sports activities. “In the next five years, we will make all efforts to develop Sonamarg as a winter sports destination, just like we have developed Gulmarg,” he said. Abdullah said he was in Gulmarg to record a programme to promote tourism. He said, “If more tourists come here it will mean more income for the locals, be it ski guides, ski instructors, sled operators, ATV and snowmobile operators or small businesses like restaurants and dhabas.” The chief minister also said that the Khelo India Winter Games will be held in Gulmarg in February this year and the Union Territory is preparing to host the event. “We still have some time before the Khelo India Winter Games. I hope there will be more snowfall before that,” he said. When asked if Gulmarg is ready to host an international winter sports event, Abdullah replied, “We cannot even think about it at this time. Our slopes are not up to that level right now. We have to improve our slopes before hosting international events.