32.2 C
Delhi
Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Renovation of historic Jawahar Tunnel nears completion with modern upgrades

Date:

Share post:

Donate-GC-Razorpay

Srinagar: Equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, the renovation of the iconic 2.5-km-long Jawahar Tunnel, which was for decades the only gateway to the Valley, is nearing completion.

The project executed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), aims to transform the decades-old tunnel along the strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, into a modern and efficient passage.

Originally constructed by a German engineering firm in 1954, the Jawahar Tunnel, named after India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, served as the sole route connecting Kashmir with the rest of India until 2022. However, its strategic importance diminished after the inauguration of the 8.45-km-long Qazigund-Banihal Navyug Tunnel by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2022.

The Jawahar Tunnel, however, remains critical for specific vehicle movements, as the new tunnel restrict the passage of fuel-laden tankers, trucks carrying LPG, and other vehicles transporting hazardous materials.

Commander of 760 Border Roads Task Force (BRTF), Amiya Shrivastava said renovation work was felt necessary after 2010 as there was widespread seepage issues on both of the tunnel tubes which defaced the road surface .

A DPR (Detailed Project Report) was prepared by the Border Roads to tackle the issues and make it a state of art tunnel, he said.

” The upgradation of the tunnel was done to enhance security , safety , surveillance and upgrading mobility infrastructure within the tunnel. We focused on improving the riding surface by laying concrete in both tubes and incorporating advanced technologies like ventilation jet fans, an improved lighting system, and sophisticated monitoring gadgets,” he said.

The renovation, initiated in July 2023, was completed within a record 18 months at a cost of Rs 62.50 crore. The BRO looks after the construction and maintenance of the Jawahar tunnel.

Both the renovated tubes of the tunnel- named as Eastern and Western – will be opened for the traffic.

Government officials said the historic tunnel situated at an altitude of 2,200 meters near Banihal pass in the Pir Panjal range can also attract tourists visiting Jammu and Kashmir

Related articles

Whispers of War, Echoes of Warnings: The Bibi Factor Behind Operation Midnight Hammer

In the blistering deserts of West Asia, beneath the shadows of ancient empires and over the ever-simmering tensions...

India’s Strategic Crossroads in the Shadow of a US-Iran War

 In the theatre of global geopolitics, few crises unfold without dragging the rest of the world into their...

ECoR to run record 365 Rath Yatra Special trains to and from Puri

Bhubaneswar: The East Coast Railway (ECoR) will operate a record 365 special trains during this year’s Puri Rath...

Netanyahu says Israel “very close” to reaching its goals in Iran

Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel is "very close" to completing its objectives after...