Jammu, a region located in the northernmost state of India, is known for its unpredictable terrain and sudden shooting of stones from the hillock overlooking the strategic Jammu-Srinagar national highway. The most vulnerable stretch of Panthyal in Ramban district has caused disruptions in the smooth movement of traffic and consumed numerous human lives. The threat of rolling stones has been a persistent issue, which the people of the region have struggled with for decades. The good news is that the most vulnerable stretch is set to get bypassed with the inauguration of the T5 tunnel next week.
The twin-tube 880-metre tunnel, part of the highway realignment project, started in 2020, and is expected to be completed within the next five days. The tunnel will put an end to the fear of shooting stones and frequent traffic jams on the stretch. Over the past couple of years, a temporary iron and steel tunnel at the crucial stretch provided some relief to the people traveling on the highway, but the rolling stones continued to cause frequent disruptions.
Ramban Deputy Commissioner Mussarat Islam is monitoring the project and regularly updates the progress on social media. He said the opening of the T5 tunnel would end the fear of shooting stones forever along with frequent traffic jams on the stretch. He expressed hope that the travel through Ramban district would become very comfortable by July end.
The Jammu-Srinagar national highway, also known as NH44, is the only highway where a four-lane project is under progress without stopping vehicular movement. The National Highway Authority of India is working on the project. The four-lane project of the 270-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, started in 2011. The work, which included a number of small and major tunnels, bridges and flyovers, is likely to be completed by next year after missing several deadlines over the past decade.
Ramban Deputy Commissioner Mussarat Islam said, “We have the most critical stretch of 66 km passing through the district (Ramban) from Nashri tunnel to Banihal tunnel. We have got three tunnels in the past year, and several other small tunnels and bridges are nearing completion, which will bypass other critical spots on the road.” The deputy commissioner expressed hope that the Ramban flyover, which will bypass Ramban market, would be thrown open by April 15, Jaishwal bridge near Karole by March 31, and 873-meter Kunfer tunnel between Peeda and Chanderkote next month.
Varinder Singh, an official working with CPPL construction company, which is working on the T5 tunnel, said over 200 workers have been engaged to complete the tunnel on a fast-track basis. “The engineers, supervisors, and laborers are all working together in shifts round-the-clock to ensure the opening of the tunnel,” he said.
Social activist Iftiyaz Ahmad said the opening of the tunnel would be a major breakthrough as many lives have been lost due to the shooting of stones in Panthyal. “We request the central government to sanction some more tunnels in the slide-prone areas to make the road safer,” he said.
The Jammu-Srinagar national highway is the only all-weather road that connects the Kashmir valley to the rest of the country. The highway passes through mountainous terrain and is prone to landslides, making it vulnerable to blockades. The highway has strategic importance as it is the primary route for the movement of goods, services, and people. It also serves as a crucial link for the armed forces stationed in the region.
