In pics: PM Modi inaugurates India's longest tunnel Chenani-Nashri in Jammu and Kashmir

DNA Web Team | Updated: Apr 3, 2017, 12:38 PM IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated India's longest tunnel Chenani-Nashri, on the Jammu-Srinagar highway amid high security.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated India's longest tunnel Chenani-Nashri, on the Jammu-Srinagar highway amid high security.

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The tunnel is expected to give sigh of relief to travellers on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, as it will reduce the travel time on National Highway 44 between Jammu and Srinagar by about 2 hours by shortening the distance between the cities by 31 km.

The Prime Minister will be dedicating the 9.2-km-long tunnel to the nation later today.

Chenani-Nashri tunnel, will bypass three major stations - Kud, Patnitop and Batote - on the highway.

The tunnel, built at the cost of Rs 2,500 crore in a record time of 5 and a half years by Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) Ltd, is located at an altitude of 1,200 metres (nearly 4,000 feet) in difficult Himalayan terrain.

The estimated daily fuel savings are to the tune of Rs. 27 lakhs.

Besides avoiding large scale deforestation and tree-cutting, the tunnel will provide a safe, all-weather route to commuters travelling from Jammu and Udhampur, to Ramban, Banihal and Srinagar.

The tunnel is equipped with world-class security systems, and is expected to boost tourism and economic activities in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

(With agency inputs)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Chenani-Nashri Tunnel, in Chenani (JandK) on Sunday.

Image courtesy: PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting after inaugurating the Chenani-Nashri Tunnel, in Chenani (JandK) on Sunday.

Image courtesy: PTI

Prime Minister  Narendra Modi with Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti at the tunnel end of Chenani-Nashri Tunnel, in Chenani (JandK) on Sunday. 

Image courtesy: PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the 9.2 km long Chenani-Nashri Tunnel is seen with the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, N.N. Vohra, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti and MoS, Jitendra Singh.

Image courtesy: PTI

Narendra Modi after inaugurating the Chenani-Nashri Tunnel is seen walking with Governor of Jammu and Kashmir,  N.N. Vohra, the Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Jitendra Singh.

Image courtesy: PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses after inaugurating the Chenani-Nashri Tunnel, in Chenani (JandK).

Image courtesy: PTI​

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Governor of JandK, N.N. Vohra,  Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari, Chief Minister of JandK  Mehbooba Mufti pose a group photo after inaugurating the Chenani-Nashri Tunnel.

Image courtesy: PTI