To strengthen the road network in Jammu and Kashmir, its northern state that borders Pakistan, India in the next two years plans to start road construction projects valued at more than $1 billion in total. Nitin Gadkari, road transport and highways minister, confirmed this recently at the launch of South Asia's longest single-tube, bidirectional tunnel.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the $560-million tunnel on April 2. The link was built at an elevation of 1,200 meters, or 4,000 ft, on the treacherous terrain of the lower Himalayan mountain range. It is part of the Jammu and Kashmir National Highway project's 286-kilometer-long four-laning, which will connect the winter and summer capitals, Jammu and Srinagar, respectively. The project will cut the distance between the two cities to 238 km from 288 km. It is designed to ensure an all-weather passage on a route that often sees heavy traffic jams and disruptions due to landslides, snow, sharp curves, vehicular breakdowns and accidents.