LG says new tunnel and viaduct will ensure safer, all-weather connectivity, easing travel for pilgrims, tourists, commuters and security forces
Jammu, July 1 : Two major infrastructure projects worth around Rs 680 crore on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway have been completed and will be opened to traffic ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra, promising safer and more reliable all-weather connectivity to the Kashmir Valley.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said the projects comprise an 810-metre viaduct on the northbound carriageway near Ramsoo in Ramban district and the 3.5-km AT-03 tunnel on the southbound carriageway between Digdole and Panthyal on NH-44.
The projects are scheduled to be thrown open to commuters on July 3, coinciding with the start of this year’s Amarnath Yatra.
According to Gadkari, the newly completed infrastructure has been designed to bypass one of the most vulnerable stretches of the Ramban-Banihal section, which is frequently affected by landslides and weather-related disruptions.
He said the tunnel and viaduct would improve road safety, shorten travel time and provide uninterrupted connectivity to the Kashmir Valley throughout the year.
The minister said the projects would facilitate smoother movement of passenger vehicles, freight traffic, defence convoys and essential supplies while strengthening the highway’s resilience against adverse weather conditions.
He also said the improved connectivity would benefit tourists, local commuters and businesses by ensuring a more dependable transport corridor between Jammu and the Valley.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha welcomed the completion of the projects, describing them as major additions to the region’s road infrastructure.
He said the new tunnel and viaduct would help ensure seamless movement for residents, tourists, pilgrims, freight carriers and security forces by avoiding landslide-prone portions of the highway.
The projects assume significance as thousands of pilgrims are expected to travel along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway during the annual Amarnath Yatra beginning July 3.
The highway serves as the primary road link connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country and is frequently disrupted during heavy rain and snowfall due to landslides and shooting stones, particularly in the Ramban-Banihal sector.
Officials said the newly constructed tunnel and viaduct are expected to reduce traffic bottlenecks and improve the overall reliability of the strategic highway, especially during periods of adverse weather.(KNS).
