Arteev Sharma
Jammu: Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has initiated the process for construction of the strategically important Sudhmahadev-Dranga twin-tube tunnels and their approach roads on the Chenani-Sudhmahadev-Gohra section of National Highway-244 (NH-244) in Jammu and Kashmir, with tenders floated for the 12.85-km project at an estimated cost of Rs 2,765.71 crore.
The project, comprising uni-directional twin-tube tunnels and approach roads, is aimed at creating a more reliable all-weather road link through one of the most challenging stretches of the Chenab region while strengthening connectivity between Jammu and the Kashmir Valley through an alternate route.
According to an official tender document issued by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), the project has been targeted for completion within 48 months. The executing agency will also be responsible for maintenance of the project for 120 months, or 10 years, from the date of its operationalisation. The last date for making bids is fixed for October 15 while the technical bid will be opened on the very next day.
The development comes weeks after the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the construction of the uni-directional twin-tube Sudhmahadev-Dranga and Singhpora-Vailoo tunnels, along with their approach roads on NH-244, at a combined estimated cost of Rs 9,779.42 crore on July 31.
The two tunnel projects, forming part of the Anantnag-Chenani corridor, are to be fully funded by the Centre and are expected to significantly improve road connectivity in Udhampur and the Chenab Valley.
The projects are envisaged to bypass road stretches vulnerable to landslides, snowfall and other adverse weather conditions, thereby improving road safety and reducing travel time. They are also expected to enhance disaster resilience, strengthen strategic and defence mobility and ensure uninterrupted movement of people, goods and essential services throughout the year.
The Sudhmahadev-Dranga project is also being viewed as an important component of the Centre’s broader efforts to develop NH-244 as an alternative connectivity axis through the Chenab region.
The government has been developing various stretches of NH-244, including the Sudhmahadev-Dranga section and the Goha-Khellani road, while the proposed Vailoo Tunnel is expected to provide further connectivity towards Kashmir. The wider development of NH-244 is aimed at creating an alternative all-weather route towards the Valley and reducing dependence on existing road corridors.
Under the Sudhmahadev-Dranga project, the longer of the two tunnels will be approximately 5.45 km long. Its western portal will be located at an elevation of around 1,719 metres, while the eastern portal will be at approximately 1,635 metres. The second tunnel, measuring around 2.6 km, will have its western portal at an elevation of nearly 1,585 metres and will emerge at an eastern portal at approximately 1,500 metres.
“With difficult terrain, frequent landslides and snowfall posing recurring challenges to road connectivity in the region, the twin-tube tunnels are expected to provide a safer and more dependable alternative route, besides giving a major boost to the strategic importance of the NH-244 corridor,” official sources said.
