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