Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate 9.2 kilometers long Chenani-Nashri tunnel, constructed over a period of about six years which will reduce about 31 kilometer distance between Chenani and Nashri, on April 2.
The tunnel constructed at the cost of Rs 3720 crores has been ready for the past about couple of months and was opened for trial recently. It will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister in the presence of Union Minister for Road and Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Union Minister for State in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh, who is also Lok Sabha member from Udhampur-Doda constituency.
Dr Jitendra Singh told the Excelsior that the Prime Minister will reach Udhampur from Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh and then fly to Chenani, where he will inaugurate the tunnel at 3 pm followed by a public meeting.
“It will be about an hour long function after which Modi will return to New Delhi,” Dr Singh said.
Official sources pointed out that imposition of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in Srinagar and Anantnag Lok Sabha seats, where by-election is being held on April 9 and 12 respectively, didn’t bar the Prime Minister from inaugurating the tunnel. However, he can’t make any specific announcements pertaining to the two Lok Sabha seats, where the by-poll is being held. As any major announcement for the State would cover Srinagar and Anantnag seats, he was unlikely to make such announcements, sources said.
According to sources, the State Government wanted the Prime Minister’s visit to take place after Lok Sabha by-polls so that he could make some announcements pertaining to development of Jammu and Kashmir.
However, the PMO ruled out deferring the visit on the ground that tunnel was ready and should be opened for convenience of the public at the earliest.
There has been no other schedule of the Prime Minister in Jammu and Kashmir during his visit to Jammu on April 2, which will be his fourth to the State after the formation of first-ever PDP-BJP coalition Government on March 1, 2015 and sixth after taking over as the Prime Minister. These visits are apart from series of election rallies he had addressed in different parts of the State during 2014 Assembly elections.
He had visited Srinagar and Ramban and addressed rallies there on November 7, 2015 during which he had announced Rs 80,000 crores worth Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) for the State. He had visited Jammu on July 17, 2015 in connection with centenary celebrations of Girdhari Lal Dogra and April 19, 2016 for inauguration of Super Specialty Hospital of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Shrine Board at Katra.
Prior to this, he had inaugurated train service to Katra at the holy town on July 4, 2014 and had twice visited Srinagar-first on September 7, 2014 during massive floods in summer capital of the State followed by Diwali with the flood victims on October 23, 2014. On Diwali, he had first visited Siachen Glacier to meet Army jawans followed by visit to Srinagar.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that the inauguration of the tunnel would go a long way in reducing distance on the National Highway and make the journey smooth.
Dr Singh said this was fifth major gift to Udhampur district in the past about one month after approval of Rs 170.5 crores for river Devika, foundation stone for All India Radio, Passport Office and Rs 250 crores worth roads under Prime Minister’s Grameen Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
According to sources, 9.2 kilometers long Chenani-Nashri tunnel has been completed 10 months later from the scheduled date of completion. After the construction was started in May 23, 2011, the tunnel was to be completed in May 20, 2016. The agreement between NHAI and Chenani-Nashri Tunnel way Limited was signed on July 28, 2010.
Delay of 10 months has resulted in cost escalation because of which the Chenani-Nashri Tunnel which was initially to be completed with Rs. 2519 crores has now been completed with Rs. 3720 cores.
The main Chenani Nashri Tunnel has an escape tunnel of 9 kilometers. There are 29 cross passages, 2 rotary junctions, 2 minor bridges, 7 culverts, 3 drainage pipes each of 9 kilometer length in the main tunnel, 2 drainage pipes each of 9 kilometer length in the escape tunnel, two 9 kilometer drainage pipes in escape tunnel and 29 drainage pipes in Cross passages and 14 lay bays. There are 59 firefighting niches and 118 emergency call niches.
There are two tunnel control centers while the toll plazas would be on both sides of the tunnel. This 9.2-km-long tunnel will connect the Chenani (south end) area of Udhampur district with the Nashri (north end) area in Ramban district and will reduce the length of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway by around 31 kilometers.
The tunnel will bypass the hilly terrain of Patnitop and will make the movement of people easy. The Jammu-Srinagar national highway is a lifeline for Kashmir valley, Ladakh and several districts of the Jammu region on which more than 15,000 vehicles ply on daily basis. Convoys of security forces also move on this highway and at the time of rain or snow traffic gets disturbed. The construction of this tunnel will allow all-weather road.
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