PM Modi opens 9 km tunnel in J&K

Srinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday opened a 9.2-km tunnel through the Himalayan terrain that has reduced the distance between twin capitals of Jammu and Srinagar by two hours.

The distance between Chenani and Nashri will now be 10.9 km (between two ends of the tunnel), instead of the existing 41 km. The PM, who drove in an open jeep through the all-weather route, said the tunnel would help trade and tourism in the Valley, which remains cut off from rest of the country for days and even weeks due to the closure of the highway as a result of heavy snow, monsoon rains and landslides. It took engineers nearly six years to build the tunnel at a cost of Rs 3,720 crore.

The officials said the tunnel will save fuel worth Rs 27 lakh per day and nearly Rs 99 crore a year. Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari, who was also present on the occasion, said the tunnel is a state-of-the-art project, which will increase tourism in the state and ensure supply of essential goods to the Valley.

Complimenting people of the state on the inauguration of the tunnel, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti hoped it would not only minimise the distances between Jammu and Srinagar but also prove to be a harbinger of bridging the psychological barriers between the people of the state and country.

She said the youth of the state, who have gone through a tough phase of uncertainty and gloom, need to be reached out to get Jammu and Kashmir out of the present phase of difficulties and desolation. “The people of the state expect Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who exhibits the unparalleled determination of taking bold decisions, to help them in taking Jammu and Kashmir out of these uncertain situations and build a prosperous future for them,” she said.

She also said that a few days back, a group of tour operators of the Valley met her and requested to extend an invitation to Prime Minister Modi to visit Kashmir so that a message of hospitality goes out to the tourists within and outside the country.