Tunnels in Jammu & Kashmir |

1. Tunnels in Jammu & Kashmir | Writer Irfan Sir 

  Important Facts For Competative Exams

 Why in News 

 The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways will lay the foundation stone of various National Highway (NH) Projects and will review and inspect Z-Morh and Zojila Tunnel in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. 

 Key Points

 Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Tunnel:  The Chenani-Nashri Tunnel renamed as Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Tunnel.

 It is not only India’s longest highway tunnel (9 km long) but also Asia’s longest bi-directional highway tunnel.

It is located in the lower Himalayan mountain range, between Udhampur and Ramban in Jammu & Kashmir. 

Banihal Qazigund Tunnel: 

It is the 8.5 km road tunnel at elevation of 1,790 m in the Pir Panjal range in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir connecting Banihal and Qazigund.

 Jawahar Tunnel:

 It is also called Banihal Tunnel or Banihal Pass. The length of the tunnel is 2.85 km. It is situated between Banihāl and Qazigund on NH 1A that has been renumbered NH 44.The tunnel facilitates round-the-year road connectivity between Srinagar and Jammu.

 Nandni Tunnels: These tunnels are the series of four highway tunnels built under Nandni wildlife sanctuary on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Udhampur district. At a combined length of 1.4 km, the tunnels have reduced the distance and travel time between Jammu and Srinagar.

 Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel: 

 It is India’s longest transportation railway tunnel measuring 11.2 km long. The tunnel link, which is the only broad gauge mountain railway in India, stretches through the Pir Panjal mountain range between Quazigund and Baramulla.The tunnel section is a part of the 202km Udhampur – Srinagar – Baramulla rail link project undertaken by the Northern Railways.

 Z-Morh Tunnel:  It is an under construction tunnel, 20 km away from the Zojila Pass, on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh highway. The 6.5 km long tunnel will connect Gagangir directly to Sonamarg in Kashmir. 

Zojila Tunnel:  It is an under construction tunnel located to the north-east of Srinagar, on the Srinagar- Leh section of the NH 1. The 14.2 km road tunnel between Baltal and Minamarg.The Zojila Tunnel will be Asia’s longest road tunnel, to be built at an altitude of 11,578 m above sea level.It will ensure safer, all weather year round connectivity between Leh, Kargil and Srinagar.

 Nilgrar Tunnels: The Nilgrar-I is a twin tube tunnel of 433 m length each.The Nilgrar twin tunnel-II is of 1.95 Km length each.Nilgrar-I and Nilgrar-II tunnels are part of the 18 Km long approach road to Zojila west portal. Zojila tunnel will provide connectivity to Ladakh region Kargil, Drass and Leh.

 Chattergala Tunnel: It is an under construction road tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir. The tunnel will be 6.8 km long and will connect Kathua and Doda districts of Jammu and Kashmir via basohli-