Officials said the T5 tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which avoids the landslide-prone Panthial section, was opened for traffic on Thursday. In February 2020, the construction of the 880-meter double-tube tunnel, which is a component of the highway realignment project, began. As a result of its completion, the threat of stone pelting has been eliminated, he said.
In the past one or two years, a temporary iron and steel tunnel at the crucial stretch has provided some relief to people traveling on the highway. But the rolling stones often continued to obstruct the smooth movement of traffic.
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“The T5 tunnel at Pantyal has been opened for two-way traffic, which will now move smoothly without the fear of falling rocks,” Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Mussarat Islam said.
The four-lane project of the 270-km highway, the only road connecting Kashmir to the rest of the country, was launched by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in 2011.
The work, which includes a series of small and large tunnels, bridges and flyovers, could be completed next year after several missed deadlines over the past decade.
T5 was the fourth tunnel inaugurated by NHAI last year, and by the end of July, other mini-tunnels and bridges bypassing other important points of the road are nearing completion.
“The Ramban flyover bypassing Ramban Bazaar is expected to open on April 15, the Jaishwal Bridge near Karole on March 31 and the 873-metre Kunfer Tunnel between Pida and Chanderkote next month,” Islam said. The officer says that after the completion of these projects, the traffic congestion on the highway will decrease.
With PTI inputs
