SRINAGAR: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary announced in the Legislative Assembly on Sunday that the Singhpora-Vailoo Tunnel project will be re-sanctioned by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
Responding to a query from MLA Payare Lal Sharma, Choudhary informed the House that bids for the project had been invited earlier but were annulled due to administrative reasons. The project was initially sanctioned under Bharatmala Pariyojna Phase-I, which has since been discontinued. For the project to proceed, it now requires approval under the NH (O) scheme of MoRTH.
“The government has already taken up the matter with MoRTH for re-sanctioning, and once the approval is granted, fresh bids will be invited for the tunnel,” the Deputy CM stated.
Addressing supplementary queries raised by MLA Mohammad Chowdhary Akram, Choudhary clarified that there are no ongoing proposals for the construction of tunnels at Changer, Bhoonda, Choidraman, Warwan, Dardpora, and Vailoo. However, he assured that infrastructure development remains a priority and efforts are being made to expedite crucial road projects across the Union Territory.
