PM Narendra Modi inaugurates India's longest road tunnel in Jammu & Kashmir

April 3, 2017

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Chenani-Nashri Tunnel, country’s longest road tunnel that links Kashmir Valley with Jammu by an all-weather route.
The 9-km-long tunnel passes through the lower Himalayan mountain range on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway 44. It cuts the distance between Jammu and Srinagar to around 250 km from the current 350 km.

Key Facts

The 9-km long ‘Chenani-Nashri Tunnel has been built at an altitude of 1,200 meters. It is also Asia’s longest bi-directional highway tunnel. It has been built at the cost of Rs. 2,500 crore.
It is India’s first tunnel equipped with world class Integrated Traffic Control System (ITCS) through which ventilation, signals, fire control, communication and electrical systems are automatically actuated.
It reduces travel time by three to four hours. The also reduces road distance between Chenani and Nashri to 10.9 km from earlier long route of 41 km.
The tunnel will provide all-weather road connectivity to the Valley and avoid landslide-prone stretch. It will help to boost the trade and commerce and tourism in the valley.
It also boasts features like Video Surveillance System, FM Rebroadcast System, Entrance Detection Control System and Active Firefighting System.
It also features a state-of-the-art ABB ventilation system to ensure that users have access to fresh air as they drive through it.
The tunnel will provide all-weather road connectivity to the Valley and serve as an alternative to the highway which is closed at the time of snow and rains.
It will help to boost the trade and commerce and tourism in the valley. It will reduce traffic jams on National Highway-1 A.

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