The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is set to begin construction on the Rs 40-billion Chattergala tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir, as announced by Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari.

Gadkari chaired a review meeting attended by Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Jitendra Singh. The tunnel will be executed by the NHAI, and necessary underpasses on the Kathua express corridor section will also be constructed promptly.

During the meeting, Singh expressed gratitude to Gadkari for accepting most of his suggestions and proposals. Singh highlighted that the tunnel project was proposed six years ago, with a detailed project report prepared by the Border Roads Organisation. However, the project faced delays due to a lack of funds. With the NHAI now taking over, construction of a new national highway from Lakhanpur to Basohli-Bani to Bhaderwah-Doda will commence.

"This new highway will be transformative, providing all-weather connectivity between Lakhanpur and Doda district via the tourist destinations of Basohli and Bani. It will reduce travel time and significantly boost business, employment, and revenue generation," Singh stated.

Additionally, Singh discussed the under-construction Delhi-Katra express corridor, which faced initial delays due to demands for a similar corridor between Delhi and Amritsar by Punjab. A compromise was reached to include stopovers in Amritsar and Kathua, finalizing the project. Singh noted the corridor is nearing completion and welcomed the acceptance of public demands for underpasses at locations like Hatli, Rajbagh, Chann Arorian, Chapper, and Kootah for local convenience.

The swift commencement of the Chattergala tunnel and the new highway is expected to bring substantial economic benefits and enhanced connectivity to the region, aligning with the government's infrastructure development goals.