Twin Tube Tunnels Near Completion on Jammu–Srinagar Highway's Most Accident-Prone Stretch

A pair of road tunnels being constructed in the Ramban district of Jammu & Kashmir is nearing completion, with authorities reporting 87.2% physical progress on the ₹866.37 crore project. The tunnels will pass through the Digdol–Panthyal segment of National Highway 44, a stretch between Jammu and Srinagar that has been subject to frequent closures due to landslides, falling rocks and adverse weather conditions. Once operational, they are expected to cut travel time between the two points to under five minutes.

The Ramban–Banihal section of NH-44 serves as the primary land route connecting the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India. Its steep gradients, sharp curves and geological instability have historically made it one of the more hazardous stretches to maintain. A locality on the highway near Ramban, referred to by residents as Khooni Nallah, became particularly associated with accidents and closures. During heavy rainfall or periods of active rockfall, vehicles were sometimes stranded on either side of the blockage for days at a time, disrupting the movement of people, goods and emergency services.

The project comprises four-lane twin tubes — one northbound and one southbound. The northbound tunnel runs 2.6 km and 0.619 km in two segments, while the southbound tube extends 3.08 km. Construction began in 2022 and is being carried out using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method, an excavation technique suited to geologically complex conditions. Excavation has proceeded through a combination of heading and benching, which involves advancing the tunnel face in stages to maintain structural stability throughout the process.

By routing vehicles through the mountain rather than along exposed hillside roads, the tunnels are designed to remove a significant portion of traffic from slopes that are vulnerable to rockfall and weather disruption. This is expected to reduce both the frequency of closures and the safety risks that have defined travel along this corridor for decades.

Residents of the area say the impact on daily life has been considerable. Naresh, a local resident, recalled that before the project began, accidents on the stretch occurred almost daily and traffic congestion was routine. He noted that children travelling to school in Ramban often returned home late, leaving little time for study. With connectivity on the stretch improving, he said journey times have shortened to around five minutes. Another resident, Ratan, described a similar change, noting that travel to the Ramsoo–Magarkote side, which previously involved uncertainty and long waits, now takes only minutes.

For goods transporters, the change carries economic implications as well. The Jammu–Srinagar highway is the main overland supply route for the Kashmir Valley, and prolonged closures have historically disrupted the movement of essential commodities, construction materials and perishable goods. More reliable transit through the Ramban–Banihal section would reduce delays and associated costs for commercial operators who depend on the route.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has also highlighted the route's strategic significance. NH-44 is regularly used by the Army and other security agencies operating in the region, and the ability to move personnel and equipment without weather-related delays is considered important for operational readiness. Faster and more dependable access through the corridor is expected to support quicker response times during emergencies.

The Digdol–Panthyal tunnels form one component of the broader four-laning of the Ramban–Banihal section of NH-44, a project that includes multiple tunnels and bridges across the stretch. Work on several of these structures is progressing in parallel, with the overall effort aimed at modernising a corridor that has long been considered one of the most logistically challenging sections of India's national highway network. Completion timelines for the Digdol–Panthyal tunnels have not been officially specified, but the current rate of progress suggests the project is in its final stages.