Jammu: Since there has been no fixed timeline for starting the commercial train service to Kashmir, the current focus is back on Jammu-Srinagar national highway (NH-44), which is the only lifeline for commuting for people of Kashmir valley.
Though the significant work on major portion of NH-44 has been completed and within six hours people can commute between the capital cities but the remaining work may take additional 12 to 24 months to get complete as per officials.
At present, vehicles have to pass through old route from Marog upto Khooni Nallah and work on around five kilometers stretch ahead of Ramsu is yet to be completed, which leads to slow movement of vehicles leading to traffic gridlocks at times.
To make the journey more comfortable, two tunnels are under construction between Marog and Khooni Nallah in Ramban district even as a flyover is being constructed to make the highway four-lane ahead of Ramsoo.
Talking to ETV Bharat, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) project Director Ramban, Parshottam Kumar said, "We hope that by end of 2025, a tunnel between Digdol and Khooni Nallah is completed whereas from Marog to Digdol, the construction is expected to be completed by December 2026."
"As far as the stretch ahead of Ramsu is concerned, foundation of flyovers is under construction and if everything goes as per plan, by June 2026, it will also be completed," the project director said.
The NHAI has given a new shape to Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in past few years and the travel time has been reduced to six hours at present. Earlier, in case of traffic jams, people used to get stuck for hours together and at times journey lasted for more than 24 hours.
Notable work which the NHAI has completed on the highway includes construction of a nine-kilometer-long Chenani-Nashri tunnel, 8.5 kilometer long Navyug tunnel between Banihal and Qazigund, two flyovers bypassing Ramban and Banihal towns and several small tunnels on mountainous stretch between Ramban and Banihal.
Moreover, other surface route to Kashmir valley, Mughal road from twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch and Sinthan Pass from Kishtwar district continue to remain closed due to accumulation of snow and the NH-44 is the only land route available during winters to commute.
Now, once the remaining work on two tunnels and a flyover is completed, travel time between Jammu and Srinagar will be reduced to only four hours and it will become an all-weather road as well.
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