Ramban, Jun 29: In a major boost to road connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, the newly constructed 3.5-kilometre AT-03 southbound tunnel on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44) has been completed and is ready for opening, offering commuters a safer and more reliable alternative to one of the highway’s most vulnerable stretches.
The tunnel connecting Panthyal with Digdool in Ramban district is expected to open to traffic within the next few days, ahead of the annual AmarnathYatra. Once operational, it will bypass the accident-prone KhooniNala and Panthyal stretches, ensuring faster, safer and all-weather connectivity between Jammu and the Kashmir Valley.
Harish Kunja, Technical Manager of Sarla Project Works Pvt. Ltd., the company engaged by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), said the tunnel has been constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 846 crore. He described the AT-03 tunnel as one of the key infrastructure projects aimed at modernising the strategically important Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
According to project officials, the tunnel is expected to significantly improve travel efficiency, enhance road safety and ensure uninterrupted connectivity throughout the year.
For decades, the KhooniNala and Panthyal sections have remained among the most vulnerable stretches of NH-44, witnessing frequent disruptions due to landslides, shooting stones, flash floods and road accidents, particularly during the monsoon season. The recurring blockades have often stranded commuters and disrupted the movement of passenger and freight traffic.
With the commissioning of the new tunnel, these hazardous stretches will be completely bypassed, providing a more dependable and secure route for both passenger and commercial vehicles.
The tunnel is also expected to play a key role in facilitating the smooth movement of pilgrims during the forthcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra (SANJY)-2026. By reducing travel time and easing congestion along the highway, the project is expected to improve the safety and convenience of thousands of pilgrims travelling between Jammu and Kashmir.
The development has been welcomed by local residents, transporters and stakeholders in the tourism sector, who described the tunnel as a transformative infrastructure project for the region. Besides improving road safety, they said it would boost tourism, facilitate trade and commerce and strengthen year-round connectivity across the Union Territory.
The completion of the AT-03 southbound tunnel marks another milestone in the ongoing four-laning and modernisation of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, underscoring the government’s continued focus on developing resilient transport infrastructure and improving connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir.
