Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari recently said that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will soon commence the Rs 4,000-crore Chattergala tunnel project in Jammu and Kashmir. Gadkari chaired a review meeting attended by Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Jitendra Singh.
“The prestigious Chhatergala tunnel work, costing about Rs 4,000 crore, will be executed by the NHAI, and the underpasses on the Kathua express corridor section, wherever demanded by the public, will be undertaken at the earliest,” stated an official spokesperson after the meeting.
Jitendra Singh expressed gratitude to Gadkari for accepting most of his suggestions and proposals. He noted that the tunnel proposal was initiated six years ago, with the Border Roads Organisation preparing the detailed project report. However, the project was delayed due to a lack of funds. Now, the NHAI will construct the new national highway from Lakhanpur to Basohli-Bani to Bhaderwah-Doda.
“Once complete, this highway will be a game changer, providing all-weather connectivity between Lakhanpur and Doda district via tourist spots Basohli and Bani. It will reduce travel time, boost businesses, create employment, and generate revenue,” Singh said.
Regarding the Delhi-Katra express corridor, Singh recalled the project’s approval process, which began in 2015. Initial delays occurred due to Punjab’s demand for a similar corridor between Delhi and Amritsar.
A compromise led to the express corridor between Delhi and Katra with stopovers in Amritsar and Kathua, finalizing the project.
Singh confirmed that the corridor is in its final construction phase and expressed satisfaction that public demands for underpasses in locations like Hatli, Rajbagh, Chann Arorian, Chapper, and Kootah had been accepted to benefit locals.
(With PTI inputs)