Chenani-Nashri tunnel

Chenani-Nashri Tunnel, also known as Patnitop Tunnel, is a road tunnel in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir on NH 44 (former name NH 1A before renumbering of all national highways).

About the tunnel-

• The Chenani-Nashri tunnel is the longest’s tunnel in India with an average length of over 9.28 km.
• This is the first tunnel in India to be constructed with a fully integrated tunnel control system.
• This tunnel has reduced the distance between the cities of Jammu and Srinagar by over 30 km.
• This has cut travel time by over two hours.
• This all-weather tunnel bypasses the snow-laden and the avalanche-prone regions in winter like the Patnitop, Kud, and Batote.
• This type of weather blocks the NH 44 every winter and leads to a long queue of vehicles.

Why is it in the news?

• The Chenani-Nashri tunnel may be named after one of the founders of BJP and the foremost ideologues of the right-wing, Syama Prasad Mookerjee.
• Mookerjee was one of the foremost voices for the complete integration of Jammu & Kashmir in the country and he died in a jail in the state after been arrested.
• A suggestion in this regard was made by one of the Union Ministers elected from Jammu & Kashmir to the Union Minister of Highways of India.
• If named as such, this will be the second tunnel named after a political leader in Jammu & Kashmir.
• Earlier, the tunnel at Banihal Pass was named after the first Prime Minister of India, Jawahar Lal Nehru.?