The Kashmir Dialogues
SRINAGAR: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will commence work on the Rs 4,000-crore Chattergala tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest, announced Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday. The declaration came after Gadkari chaired a review meeting attended by Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh.
“The prestigious Chhatergala tunnel work, costing about Rs 4,000 crore, will be executed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and the underpasses on the Kathua express corridor section, wherever demanded by the public, will be undertaken at the earliest,” an official spokesperson stated post-meeting. Singh expressed gratitude to Gadkari for accepting the majority of his suggestions and proposals.
Singh highlighted that the proposal for the tunnel was initiated around six years ago, with a detailed project report prepared by the Border Roads Organisation. However, the project had been stalled due to funding issues. Now, the NHAI will proceed with constructing the new national highway from Lakhanpur to Basohli-Bani to Bhaderwah-Doda.
“Once this highway is complete, it will be a game-changer, providing all-weather connectivity between Lakhanpur and Doda district via the tourist spots of Basohli and Bani. This will reduce travel time and significantly boost businesses, employment, and revenue generation,” Singh stated.
Referring to the under-construction Delhi-Katra express corridor, Singh recalled that the project was approved after extensive efforts starting in 2015. Initial delays occurred due to Punjab’s demand for a similar corridor between Delhi and Amritsar.
“After reaching a compromise to include stopovers in Amritsar and Kathua, the Delhi-Katra express corridor project was finalized,” Singh explained. He noted that the corridor is in its final construction phase and expressed satisfaction that public demands for underpasses in areas such as Hatli, Rajbagh, Chann Arorian, Chapper, and Kootah had been accommodated for local convenience.
Sheikh Sameer
Rameez Makdoomi
