Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Feb 5: The work on four laning of Jammu- Srinagar National Highway which will be an all weather road will be completed by June 2017.
The work is in full swing on some portions of the Highway including the tunnels and the entire project will be completed by June 2017, highly placed official sources told Excelsior. The National Highway will have four small and two major tunnels from Jammu to Lower Munda in Kashmir Valley, sources added.
Sources said with the four laning of National Highway, the distance from Jammu to Srinagar will not only be reduced by 55 kilometers but it will be an all weather Highway as there will be no road blockade due to shooting stones and landslides on the Highway because main portions which are vulnerable will be covered under the tunnels.
The 300 kilometre present distance of National Highway will be reduced to 245 kilometers only, sources added.
Sources said despite the terrain and hostile weather conditions, the work on the Highway which is being constructed by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) through contractors is in full swing at various portions of it including tunnels and the construction is being done in shifts.
Among the big two tunnels Chenani-Nashri tunnel connecting two districts of Udhampur and Ramban will be nine kilometers long while Jawahar tunnel at Banihal connecting Jammu region with Kashmir Valley will be 8.50 kilometers long, sources said. While 60 percent work has been completed on Chenani- Nashri tunnel, 40 percent of the work has been completed on Banihal tunnel, sources added.
Sources said the two tunnels will have facilities at exit points like parking and shopping etc.
Sources said these two spots of the NH where major tunnels have been constructed are vulnerable and maximum landslides and shooting stones take place in this area resulting in blockade of the Highway during Winter and rainy season every year causing a problem to commuters.
However the sources claimed that with the construction of the tunnels in these belts, there will be no problems like landslides and shooting stones and it will be an all weather NH in the future.
Sources said that the Chenani -Nashri Tunnel will be through by June 2016 while the Jawahar Tunnel will be through by May 2016. The portion of Highway from Udhampur to Chenani, Nashri to Ramban and Ramban to Banihal will be completed by June 2017, sources added.
Sources said that with the four laning of NH all major curves will be removed and the journey from Srinagar to Jammu will be reduced by two hours.
It may be recalled that the four laning of Jammu -Udhampur National Highway will be completed by June this year and the Nandni Tunnel will be completed by October 2014.
When contacted Project Director NHAI 1, R P Singh said that the work is going on in full swing and the construction work of National Highway will be completed by June 2017.
He said 60 percent of work on tunnel at Nashri is complete while 40 percent work on Banihal tunnel has been completed.
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