Banihal, Jun 19: In a major boost to road connectivity ahead of the AmarnathYatra, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is set to open crucial portions of under-construction infrastructure projects on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, offering safer and smoother travel through some of the highway's most vulnerable stretches.
Officials said the move is aimed at improving traffic flow during the annual yatra and reducing disruptions in areas that have historically remained prone to landslides, shooting stones, and weather-related road closures.
The development comes as work on the ambitious four-lane Srinagar-Jammu National Highway project enters its final phase.
While most sections between Udhampur and Banihal have already been completed, construction is continuing on a nearly 35-km stretch between Ramban and Banihal, where a series of tunnels, bridges, and viaducts are being built across difficult terrain, including Maroog, Digdool, Pantihyal, Makarkoot, and Sher Bibi.
NHAI Project Director Shubham Yadav told Greater Kashmir that during the AmarnathYatra, one tube of the twin-tube tunnel project between Digdool and Pantihyal, measuring about 3.5 km, will be opened for traffic.
In addition, around 800 metres of the under-construction viaduct between Makarkoot and Sher Bibi will also be made operational.
"The objective is to ease congestion, improve safety, and provide uninterrupted movement for yatris and other commuters during the yatra period in Maroog and Ramsoo section of the highway," Yadav said.
The Digdool-Pantihyal corridor includes some of the most troublesome segments of the highway, particularly the notorious KhooniNallah and Panthyal areas, which have witnessed frequent road blockades over the decades due to landslides, mudslides, and falling rocks.
Even moderate rainfall often leads to traffic disruptions in these stretches.
According to Yadav, although the tunnel project is yet to be fully completed, opening a substantial section ahead of the yatra will significantly reduce travel time and bypass vulnerable zones that have long posed challenges for motorists.
He said NHAI had undertaken extensive preparations to facilitate a smooth and safe AmarnathYatra.
The highway has been substantially upgraded under the four-laning project, while work on the remaining portions is progressing steadily.
Referring to the damage caused by cloudbursts, flash floods, heavy rainfall, and landslides in parts of Udhampur district last year, Yadav said nearly 90 percent of the restoration and stabilisation works had been completed.
He said that traffic movement through the affected sector has largely been normalised and additional measures are in place to ensure uninterrupted vehicular movement during the yatra season.
Once completed, the remaining tunnel and viaduct projects between Ramban and Banihal are expected to transform one of the most challenging sections of the highway, making travel to Kashmir faster, safer, and more reliable throughout the year.
