JK News Today
Jammu, Mar 16: The most dangerous stretch on Jammu-Srinagar national highway-44 at Panthiyal was bypassed when the T5 tunnel was thrown open for the traffic.
It will give a sigh of relief to people travelling on the highway as every now and then this stretch often remains closed during rains.
The work on this tunnel had started in February 2020 and got completed today. Panthiyal was considered as most dangerous stretch due to shooting stones and slides. A steel tunnel was also built but it used to get damage due to which road used to get blocked.
“The T5 tunnel at Panthyal was opened for two-way traffic which will now move smoothly without the fear of disruption from falling rocks,” Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, Mussarat Islam said.
The four-laning project of the 270-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was started by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) in 2011.
The work that includes a number of small and major tunnels, bridges and flyovers is likely to be completed by next year after missing several deadlines over the past decade.
The T5 was the fourth tunnel dedicated to the public by the NHAI in the past year, while several other small tunnels and bridges are nearing completion which will bypass other critical spots on the highway, making travel comfortable by the end of July.
“The Ramban flyover which will bypass Ramban Market is expected to be thrown open by April 15, Jaishwal bridge near Karole by March 31 and 873-metre Kunfer tunnel between Peeda and Chanderkote next month as well,” Islam said.
The officer said after the completion of these projects, traffic congestion on the highway will get reduced.
