Srinagar/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his eagerness to visit the Sonamarg area of Jammu and Kashmir where he is scheduled to inaugurate the Z-Morh tunnel on Monday.

Responding to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's post, where he shared videos after visiting the Gagangir area on Saturday, PM Modi said: "I am eagerly awaiting my visit to Sonmarg, Jammu and Kashmir for the tunnel inauguration. You rightly point out the benefits for tourism and the local economy. Also, loved the aerial pictures and videos!"

Omar Abdullah visited the Gagangir area of Ganderbal district on Saturday to oversee the arrangements ahead of PM Modi's visit on Monday.

"Visited Sonmarg today to review preparations for PM @narendramodi ji's visit on Monday. The inauguration of the Z-morh tunnel will open Sonmarg to tourism all-year-round, Sonmarg will now be developed as a great ski resort. The local population will not have to leave in winter & the travel time to Kargil/Leh from Srinagar will also reduce," he wrote on X.

The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister also posted some pictures of the area he visited on Saturday.

The Z-Morh tunnel will bypass the troublesome stretch of the highway from Gagangir to Sonamarg which remains closed during winter months due to avalanches and heavy snowfall.

The Prime Minister will also address a public gathering at Sonamarg on Monday.

Heavy security cover has been put in place at the venue comprising the SPG, security forces, J&K Police, and the army has been thrown on the entire area in the 20-km radius of the Prime Minister's engagement sites.

The Z-Morh tunnel is a 6.5 km long 2-lane road tunnel between Gagangir and Sonamarg in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir in India.

It is named after the Z-shaped stretch of road that the tunnel has replaced (Z-Morh translates to "Z-turn" in English).

The road used before was avalanche-prone and used to get blocked for several months, but the Z-Morh tunnel provides all-weather connectivity to the Sonamarg tourist town.

It takes only 15 minutes to travel the 6.5 km-long tunnel compared to hours over the zig-zag road up and down the hills. The tunnel, once operational, is expected to help employment for local youth, travel to Ladakh region and Amarnath Yatra in addition to giving a big boost to tourism in the area.