The Rs 2519 crore Chenani-Nashri tunnel on the National Highway -1A linking district Udhampur and district Ramban by a tunnel, said to be the longest road tunnel in the country, will reduce the distance of 41 kilometres to just 10.89 kilometres on Udhampur-Ramban sector of the NH-1A. This tunnel has been built by the National Highway Authority of India after engaging multiple agencies for completion of the project with new deadline of July 2016. The Prime Minister is likely to inaugurate this prestigious tunnel in September this year. Most of the work has been completed while the installation of equipments and gadgets like Sound Diffusers, Ventilators, fans, fire fighters, Electrical Panels and Transformers etc, inside the tunnel, is under progress and likely to be completed by August 15.
Nashri has been the nightmare of Road Transport Department and the R&B Department. Maximum of road accidents along this Highway would generally take place in this sector. Moreover because the mountain through which the road meanders is mostly sandy, it is highly prone to land and mud slides during the rainy season and the winter. As a result of this Nashri, the most vulnerable spot in the Highway would be closed and the traffic on Highway would come to standstill for days at end. With the construction of this crucial tunnel, not only the distance and time of travel will be reduced, the fear of landslides forcing suspension of traffic in this sector will be removed once for all. As such it will be a landmark in the history of road transport in the State. People of the State have been impatiently waiting for the day when this great feat will see the light of the day.
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