The Union Cabinet approved construction of the Singhpora-Vailoo and Sudhmahadev-Dranga tunnels and their approach roads in Jammu and Kashmir at an estimated cost of Rs 98 billion (Rs 98 bn). The meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister and the projects will be fully funded by the Central Government, officials said. The works are slated for completion in five years.

The Sudhmahadev-Dranga tunnel lies on the Chenani-Sudhmahadev-Goha-Doda-Khellani National Highway while the Singhpora-Vailoo tunnel forms part of the Kishtwar-Anantnag highway. The Singhpora-Vailoo 39-km stretch will include 10-km unidirectional twin-tube tunnels and the 13-km Sudhmahadev-Dranga stretch will include eight-km twin-tube tunnels. The tunnels are designed to bypass difficult sections of the highways and to keep them operational throughout the year despite snowfall in higher reaches.

The Cabinet said the projects will strengthen connectivity between the Jammu and Kashmir divisions and improve the road network in Udhampur, Doda and Kishtwar districts. Officials added that the approach roads for both tunnels have also been approved and that the Chenani-Doda and Kishtwar-Anantnag highways will provide alternate links between Jammu and the valley. With tourism resuming, the improved links will support pilgrim and tourist flows to Sudhmahadev and Mantalai and boost economic activity in the Chenab Valley.

Strategically, the new highways will serve defence needs by offering alternate routes to the Kashmir Valley from the Jammu region, officials said. At present the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remains the only reliable all-weather road link between the divisions while the Rajouri-Poonch-Shopian Mughal road is a fair-weather route. Rail connectivity has improved since Srinagar was linked by train from Jammu and two Vande Bharat trains are running between the divisions.