State PCS - JAMMU & KASHMIR (JKAS)

• 22 Oct 2024

Z-Morh Project in Kashmir

Why in News?

The Z-Morh tunnel project in Jammu & Kashmir recently witnessed militant attacks highlighting strategical significance of the project.

Key Points

• Z-Morh Tunnel:
  • A 6.4 km-long tunnel connecting the Sonamarg health resort with Kangan town, Ganderbal district.
  • Located near Gagangir village, the tunnel’s name is derived from the Z-shaped road stretch where it is constructed.
  • It will provide all-weather connectivity to Sonamarg, a major tourist destination on the Srinagar-Leh highway.
• Strategic Importance:
  • The tunnel is part of the larger Zojila Tunnel project, aimed at ensuring all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Ladakh.
  • It is critical for military logistics, enabling faster movement of troops to Ladakh, where tensions with both Pakistan and China exist.
  • The tunnel facilitates safe connectivity to regions like Dras, Kargil, and Leh, which are crucial for defense operations, particularly around the Siachen Glacier and Eastern Ladakh.
  • Z-Morh tunnel will act as a precursor to the Zojila Tunnel, which is under construction and expected to be completed by December 2026.
  • Enhances India's capability in reinforcing military personnel in sensitive areas of Ladakh, vital post-2020 India-China standoff.
• The attack on the project underscores evolving threats to critical infrastructure, highlighting the importance of safeguarding national projects from insurgent activities.

Major Infrastructure Projects in J&K

Why in News?

The recent militant attack has put a spotlight on ongoing infrastructure projects in Jammu & Kashmir, with contractors assessing risks but not yet raising alarm.

Key Points

• Ongoing Mega Projects in J&K:
  • The Centre is executing 51 mega projects in Jammu & Kashmir, initially estimated at Rs 76,000 crore, but costs have risen by 56% to Rs 1.16 trillion, as per the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
  • Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL):
    • It is a Rs 42,500 crore project and connects Kashmir Valley with India, stalled since 1995. It features the world’s highest rail bridge over the Chenab River, crucial for regional integration, economic growth, and defense mobility.
  • J&K Rail Link Project Dharam:
    • The Dharam-Banihal section of the Jammu & Kashmir Rail Link Project is part of the Katra-Banihal section of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) Project.
    • The project is a national initiative to connect the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India by rail. The Dharam-Banihal section includes a Tunnel Communication System that provides uninterrupted radio communication between handheld devices and base stations.
• National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL):
  • NHIDCL is a government-owned company established in 2014 for the development & maintenance of National Highways & Strategic Roads of India.
  • It operates as a nodal agency of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

Z-Morh Tunnel

• A 6.4 km-long tunnel connecting the Sonamarg health resort with Kangan town, Ganderbal district.
• Located near Gagangir village, the tunnel’s name is derived from the Z-shaped road stretch where it is constructed.
• It will provide all-weather connectivity to Sonamarg, a major tourist destination on the Srinagar-Leh highway.

India-China Standoff and Patrolling Arrangements Along LAC

Why in News?

India and China have been engaged in a prolonged standoff since 2020 along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Ladakh region, with several points of contention and military confrontations.

• Recent developments indicate efforts towards easing tensions and restructuring patrolling arrangements.

Key Points

• Sectors Across the LAC: It is divided into three sectors.
  • The eastern sector which spans Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim (1346 km).
  • The middle sector in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh (545 km).
  • The western sector in Ladakh (1597 km).
  • The alignment of the LAC in the eastern sector is along the 1914 McMahon Line.
    • The McMohan line marked out previously unclaimed/undefined borders between Britain and Tibet. The middle sector is the least disputed sector, while the western sector witnesses the highest transgressions between the two sides