SRINAGAR: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) expects six tunnels being constructed under various highway projects in Jammu and Kashmir to be completed in the coming year, Project Director Rajiv Kumar said during a media interaction in Jammu.
Kumar said the strategically important Zojila tunnel was expected to become operational by December 2027, while the four-laning of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was also nearing completion.
He was speaking to a 10-member media delegation led by Shariq Noor, Deputy Director, Central Bureau of Communication (CBC), Bhopal, during the delegation’s visit to the NHAI regional office in Jammu on Monday.
The visiting journalists, comprising senior representatives of media organisations based in Bhopal, also undertook a field visit to major highway infrastructure projects in the region.
Briefing the delegation on ongoing works, Kumar said National Highway-44 remained a key connectivity corridor and that only around 15 km was left to be four-laned.
Officials also briefed the delegation about the Delhi-Katra Expressway and its role in improving connectivity between the National Capital Region, Jammu and Katra.
The delegation was informed that tunnels along the highway corridor had reduced the road distance to Srinagar by around 45 km and cut travel time by more than an hour. The earlier road distance was around 300 km.
The journalists also visited the Chenani-Nashri tunnel, where they were briefed on its construction, operation and contribution to reducing travel time and improving the reliability of the Jammu-Srinagar highway corridor.
Officials said the Zojila tunnel, once operational, would improve connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh.
The proposed Katra-Kulgam road project is currently at the Detailed Project Report (DPR) preparation stage. Officials said the proposed corridor was expected to provide the shortest road connectivity to the Kashmir Valley from the Jammu side once developed.
According to the NHAI briefing, 22 projects covering a combined 382 km have been completed in Jammu and Kashmir at a cost of Rs 14,819 crore. Another 16 projects spanning 320 km are under implementation at an estimated cost of Rs 22,277 crore.
The media delegation was also taken through the technical features, progress and intended connectivity benefits of the major highway projects under implementation in the region.
Earlier on Monday, the delegation visited the media centre building and met Neha Jalali, Director, Press Information Bureau (PIB), Jammu.
During the interaction, Jalali highlighted developments in Jammu and Kashmir in connectivity, infrastructure, healthcare, entrepreneurship and economic opportunities following the abrogation of Article 370.
