Chenani-Nashri tunnel on Jmu-Sgr NH to be commissioned next month

Jammu, Mar 01: Chairman of National Highways Authority of India Yudhvir Singh Malik today called on Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Works Naeem Akhtar here to review the progress of upgradation of Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and other key road communication projects in the state.


The NHAI chairman has been deputed to J&K on a two-day visit by Union Road and Surface Transport Ministry to personally review the progress of the key highway and other road projects in the state and submit a report to the Prime Minister’s Office.

This follows the meeting of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi last week where she had flagged road connectivity as a major area of concern which needed immediate attention.

The NHAI Chairman assured Mr Akhtar that the authority would ensure that the executing agencies stick to the deadline and ensure completion of works on key highway and road projects in time.

The Minister emphasised expediting work on Srinagar-Qazigund stretch, Qazigund-Banihal tunnel, Banihal-Ramban section and Chenani-Nashri tunnel as part of upgradation of Srinagar-Jammu highway to facilitate hassle-free travel between the two capital cities of the state.

Regarding Srinagar-Qazigund section of the highway, the Minister was informed by the NHAI authorities that due to the disturbances in the Valley last summer, the work on this important stretch took a big hit.

The NHAI Chairman, however, assured the Minister that the work is being expedited on this stretch to complete this year.

Regarding Qazigund-Banihal tunnel, the NHAI chairman informed the Minister that the 8.5 km-long tunnel is at the breakthrough stage and it would be commissioned in 2018.

On upgradation of 36 km Banihal-Ramban section, the Minister assured the NHAI Chairman that while the state cabinet has already cleared several dumping sites in the area, more such sites would be cleared soon.

The NHAI chairman directed his regional officers to immediately make the payment for the dumping sites cleared by the state cabinet and take over the possession at the earliest so that work can be expedited on this important section of the highway.

Regarding Chenani-Nashri tunnel, the Minister was informed that the 9.50 km-long tunnel, which is an engineering marvel, is at the final stage of testing and certification.

He was further informed that once the testing and certification is complete, the tunnel could be opened anytime in near future.

''If everything goes well, the tunnel could be inaugurated anytime next month,'' the meeting was told.

The meeting was informed that NHAI has simultaneously directed the executing agencies for expediting work on widening of National Highway between Udhampur and Chenani.

Given the tourism potential of the Chenani-Nashri tunnel, it was decided in the meeting that the state government and NHAI would develop wayside tourist facilities around the tunnel to develop the area as an independent tourist destination.