PM Modi to visit Jammu and Kashmir today, flag off work on Zojila tunnel

NEW DELHI: Days after the Centre announced suspension of operation against militants during Ramzan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a day-long visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday to give a go-ahead to development schemes in his bid to reach out to Kashmiris.

Modi will unveil a plaque to mark the commencement of work on the 14-km long Zojila Tunnel which would be country’s longest road and Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel that has immense strategic importance. The tunnel between Baltal and Minamarg on the Srinagar-Leh section of NH-1A will come up at a total cost of Rs 6,800 crore, the government said in a statement.

The construction of this tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh and is expected to cut down the time taken to cross the Zojila pass from the present three and a half hours to just 15 minutes, it said.


The PM will also dedicate the 330-MW Kishanganga Hydropower Station to the nation at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre in Srinagar. Modi will lay the foundation stone of the Srinagar Ring Road too.

Early on Saturday, the Prime Minister will attend the closing ceremony of the birth centenary celebration of the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche in Leh.

The separatists, however, have called for protests against the PM’s visit to Srinagar.

Modi's visit comes at a time when the equations between ruling PDP and the BJP are shaky, with differences coming out in open following the Kathua rape and murder case.

Even the recruitment of Kashmiris by the militant organisations have also gone up and stone pelting is now being used as a cover to put hurdle during operations. This despite union home ministry gave amnesty to first timer youths logged in stone throwing incidents and Modi's own appeal during last November visit to shun terrorism and encourage tourism.

The Centre’s decision to halt operations during Ramzan, which is seen as a humanitarian gesture towards Kashmiris, has been opposed by the separatists and Pakistan-based militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.