Jammu: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s longest road tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway on Sunday.
According to the media report, Chenani-Nashri tunnel will be made operational starting on Sunday itself and the Bharatiya Janata Party said that it is a matter of great pride for the people of the northernmost state.
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Ahead of the inauguration, Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State in the PM’s Office, was quoted saying;
“The tunnel road is dedicated to the nation in keeping with his call for a new India.”
PM Modi is later expected to address a public rally at Battal Ballain in Udhampur district after he is done inaugurating the tunnel road.
The distance between Chenani and Nashri will now be just10.9 kms (between two ends of the tunnel), instead of the existing 41 kms. The highway is also being deemed as an alternative route, which will help in boosting trade and tourism.
An expenditure of Rs 99 crore worth fuel will be saved after this tunnel is inaugurated and rendered operational. On an average of Rs 27 lakh worth fuel will be saved on a daily basis. Apart from cost, the ‘longest tunnel’ will also cut down travel time between Jammu and Srinagar by two hours.
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