Nitin Gadkari-led Highways Ministry earmarks more than ₹10,000 crore for roads, tunnels in Jammu and Kashmir
In a major step towards improving connectivity in Kashmir, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), headed by Nitin Gadkari, has approved ₹10,637 crore for 19 large road and tunnel projects.
Most of these are in the Kashmir Valley and are expected to ease travel, reduce isolation, and boost economic activity.
At the heart of this package are two transformative tunnel projects: the Peer Ki Gali tunnel on the Mughal Road and the Sadna tunnel in north Kashmir.
The Peer Ki Gali tunnel, cleared for ₹3,830 crore, will turn the Mughal Road into an all-weather route, providing a much-needed alternative to the often-blocked Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Once completed, this tunnel will ensure year-round access between Rajouri, Poonch and Shopian, even during heavy snowfall.
Equally significant is the Sadna tunnel, to be built for ₹3,330 crore on National Highway-701. This tunnel will link Rafiabad to Karnah Valley via Kupwara, Chowkibal, Trehgam and Chamkote. Currently, Karnah remains cut off for months during winter. With the tunnel, this strategic and remote border region near the Line of Control will finally have uninterrupted road access.
In Srinagar, a new four-lane flyover from Lal Chowk to Parimpora, approved for ₹700 crore, is set to dramatically improve urban mobility. The flyover will reduce traffic jams along one of the city’s busiest routes and ensure faster movement within the capital.
Other projects include the Zaznar-Shopian section (₹852 crore), Trehgam-Chamkote stretch (₹966 crore), Magam flyover on the Narbal-Gulmarg section (₹445 crore), Qazigund Bypass (₹95 crore), and a two-lane bridge over the Rambiara River in Shopian (₹71 crore).
MORTH has also approved Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for new works over the next three years, including the widening of NH-444 from Srinagar to Qazigund (63km), a new Shopian-Magam road (75km), a 10.8km Panjtarni tunnel with a 31km approach, to connect both Baltal and Pahalgam tracks to the Amarnath cave shrine.
These projects will improve travel time, ensure safer routes, boost tourism, and strengthen the movement of goods and security forces.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed gratitude to the Centre. “I am grateful to PM Narendra Modi ji and MoRTH Minister Nitin Gadkari ji for their continued support as we try to steer J&K on a path of progress, development and connectivity,” he posted on X.
With the Katra-Srinagar rail link now operational and road connectivity getting a massive upgrade, Kashmir is on the verge of a major infrastructure transformation.
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