Jammu: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Tuesday announced that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has proposed the construction of a new two-lane tunnel parallel to the existing Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel on the Chenani-Nashri section of National Highway-44 in Jammu and Kashmir.
The proposed project is expected to significantly improve traffic management and travel efficiency on one of the busiest and most strategic highway corridors linking the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country.
Sharing the development, Dr. Singh said the proposal was accepted by NHAI and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways following a request made for additional infrastructure on the route to address increasing traffic volume.
The proposed tunnel will run parallel to the existing Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel, which transformed travel on the Jammu-Srinagar highway after its inauguration in April 2017 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The existing tunnel reduced travel time between Chenani and Nashri, bypassing the accident-prone and weather-vulnerable Patnitop stretch and improving all-weather connectivity along NH-44.
Officials believe the addition of a parallel tube will help accommodate rising traffic, reduce congestion and strengthen operational efficiency on the corridor, particularly during peak travel seasons and periods of heavy freight movement.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway serves as the primary surface link connecting Kashmir with the rest of India and carries thousands of passenger and commercial vehicles daily.
The announcement assumes significance as authorities continue to invest in major road and tunnel infrastructure projects across Jammu and Kashmir, including the under-construction Zojila Tunnel and other connectivity initiatives aimed at improving mobility and reducing travel disruptions in mountainous terrain. [KNT]
