All-weather NH to boost religious, other tourism
Will shorten distance between Doda-Kishtwar
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 3: Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) Nitin Gadkari today said the Uni-Directional Khellani tunnel in Doda district is being upgraded into a two-lane structure, incorporating a paved shoulder and improving its approach road on National Highway-244.
The tunnel is part of Sudh Mahadev-Goha-Khellani-Chatroo-Khanabal National Highway which will serve as alternate highway to Batote-Kishtwar and provide all-weather connectivity to Doda region besides shortening distance between Doda and Kishtwar by 30 kilometres.
Gadkari shared picture of upgradation work on Khellani tunnel on X, formerly twitter, and wrote: “In Jammu and Kashmir, we are upgrading the Uni-Directional Khellani tunnel into a 2-lane structure, incorporating a paved shoulder and improving its approach road on National Highway-244.”
He said entire length of this project spans 2.419 kilometres and falls within Package 3.
Gadkari said the upgraded tunnel is set to ensure year-round accessibility, a development that will significantly benefit local economy and residents of the region.
“Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this ambitious project is dedicated to achieving expeditious, trouble-free, and environmentally conscious mobility in Jammu and Kashmir,” the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, said.
Gadkari also tweeted four photographs on the ongoing work at Khellani tunnel.
Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh, who is also Lok Sabha member from Doda constituency, reposted Gadkari’s message on X and wrote: “Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Udhampur-Kathua-Doda Lok Sabha constituency has witnessed construction of over 200 new bridges, Katra-Delhi Express Corridor, three new National Highways and Asia’s longest road tunnel named after Syama Prasad Mukherjee”.
Expressing gratitude to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for upgrading Khellani tunnel on National Highway-244, Dr Jitendra Singh said this will be a game changer for far flung hilly region of district Doda.
Work is apace on Sudh Mahadev-Goha-Khellani-Chatroo-Khanabal National Highway which will provide all-weather connectivity to the people of Doda and Kishtwar districts with Jammu region as well as Kashmir.
Presently, Batote-Kishtwar National Highway gets blocked at certain places during adverse weather conditions especially in Monsoon rain fury and snowfall in winters cutting off Doda and Kishtwar districts with Jammu region.
However, alternate National Highway from Sudh Mahadev will be an all-weather highway and provide whole year connectivity to Doda and Kishtwar districts with rest of the Jammu region.
The two districts will also remain connected to Kashmir as the Highway has been extended up to Khanabal in Anantnag district, as per the officials.
The new National Highway will also link religious places like Sudh Mahadev and Mantalai giving boost to religious tourism in Jammu region, the officials said.
It will also reduce travel distance from Jammu to Doda and Kishtwar. Besides, it will shorten distance between Doda and Kishtwar districts by about 30 kilometres, they said.
Besides tourism potential in Bhaderwah will also be exploited once the National Highway is completed as it will provide good road connectivity to the entire belt of Doda region.
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