Srinagar, Feb. 6 -- The newly inaugurated Z-Morh Tunnel in Ganderbal district is proving to be a game-changer for the Sonamarg tourist destination, boosting winter tourism in the region at a very large scale. Since its opening on January 13, more than 55,000 tourists have visited Sonamarg within just 16 days during the otherwise slow winter months.

The 6.5-kilometer-long tunnel, connecting Gagangir to Sonamarg, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has since facilitated seamless access to the picturesque valley, which was previously difficult to reach due to heavy snowfall and road closures. Official data reveals that among the 55,935 tourists who arrived post-inauguration, 1,114 were foreign visitors.

According to Ghulam ...