After successfully completing the week long trial run of 9 km long country’s- longest road tunnel-between Chenani and Nashri, on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the stage is set for its grand opening by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi by this month end.
At present the schedule of the Prime Minister's visit has not been finalised but efforts are on to finalise the programme for the inauguration ceremony of the tunnel.
According to senior officers of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), the trial run of tunnel,built at a cost of Rs 3,720 crores, was successfully completed for peak/off peak hours between March 9 to March 14, 2017. “We have thrown open the tunnel for traffic and awaiting clearance from the administration for its formal inauguration,” senior Project engineers told reporters at the tunnel site.
The tunnel, equipped with world class Integrated Tunnel Control system (ITCS), is expected to cut down the distance by around 30 kilometers and will save roughly two hours travel time of motorists.
“Ventilation, Fire control, signals,communication, electrical system tolling etc will be automatically actuated through ITCS".
As per rough estimates motorists would end up saving Rs 27 lakh per day only on fuel between the 9 km stretch.
The tunnel is expected to boost economic and tourism activities in the state as it provides safe and all weather route to reach Kashmir valley. The tunnel would also ensure preservation of pristine forest in ecological sensitive Patnitop area and would provide for better integration of Jammu not only with people of Kashmir valley but with people of Doda, Bhaderwah and Kishtwar.
In addition to the main tunnel, a parallel escape tunnel has been constructed for the evacuation of commuters in case of any eventuality.
The two tubes of the tunnel are internally connected through 29 cross-passages (each after a gap of 300 meters) and the escape tunnel will be used exclusively by pedestrians.
There are two ducts in the tunnel –one for fresh air and another for exhausting the polluted air. There are CCTVs, fight fighting equipment and communication systems installed all along the route.
New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) was used to construct the tunnel in the lower Himalyan mountain range which passes through difficult geological conditions. NHAI had awarded the strategic tunnel project to Il&FS Transportation Network limited.