SRINAGAR: In a significant development that promises to ease travel and boost connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, work on two key road tunnels is set to begin soon. This announcement follows a meeting between Member of Parliament (MP) Mian Altaf Ahmad and senior officials from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and National Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) in Delhi, where the issue of delayed infrastructure projects was raised.
Mian Altaf, who represents Anantnag-Rajouri, confirmed that the Director General (DG) of BRO assured him that the long-awaited tunnel on the Mughal Road would soon be under construction. The Mughal Road, a historic route that connects South Kashmir with the Rajouri-Poonch region, has been a critical link but has faced frequent closures due to adverse weather conditions, especially heavy snowfall. These disruptions have not only hampered traffic flow but have also affected socio-economic activities and trade between the regions. The new tunnel is expected to significantly improve year-round connectivity and economic ties between these areas.
The MP also pressed for the completion of other vital roads under the BRO’s jurisdiction, including the Akhnoor to Sundarbani road, and the Manjakot to Poonch road. In addition, work on the Thanamandi-Bafliaz road and the Manjakot tunnel is set to be expedited, according to the DG’s assurances.
During a separate meeting with NHIDCL officials, Mian Altaf raised concerns over the delay in the construction of the Vailoo-Singpora tunnel. This tunnel, which will start at Ahlan in the Vailoo area of Kokernag and connect to Chatroo in Kishtwar, is expected to bypass a particularly treacherous stretch of road, making travel safer and more efficient. By reducing travel time and providing an alternative to the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the tunnel will not only reduce road accidents in the Chenab Valley but also foster tourism growth in the region.
