The 7.5 kilometer Ujru-Banihal tunnel on Srinagar-Jammu national highway is yet to get completed despite several deadlines given by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). Sources said the concerned construction agency has been given further time period and has been directed to expedite the work by the end of March 2020.
Despite several deadlines given by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), NAVYUG Private Limited, a construction company who had been given task to complete the second largest tunnel on Srinagar-Jammu national highway has received another deadline for accomplishment of work by the end of March next year.
In year 2011, NHAI issued tenders for completion of Ujru-Banihal tunnel after which NAVYUG Private Limited got selected for constructing the said tunnel. Notably the tunnel would be an alternative of Jawahar tunnel which often remains out of bounds due to inclement weather and geographical conditions.
Jawahar tunnel which had been constructed before 1947 on Sringar-Jammu national highway is dangerous for travelers who have no other alternative to reach other side of the mountain through this fragile track. Experts had also cautioned authorities about trespassing through this insecure passage and have declared it ‘unsafe’ for vehicular movement.
Meanwhile NAVYUG Private Limited has started construction work in 2012 but failed to complete the work within a stipulated period of time. Keeping in view the failure of agency, NHAI gave several extensions to the agency but despite passing of 7 years, agency has utterly failed to complete the work on said tunnel.
When asked about the frequent delays over completion of work, officials of NAVYUG Private Limited pointed out several impediments which include September 2014 floods and 2016 mass agitation when government forces neutralized a young Hizb militant Burhan Wani in a brief shootout in Bamdoora hamlet of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Agency also maintained that stoppage of funds from time to time was also the reason of incompletion of work over the tunnel.
Keeping in view the hilly terrain and geographical conditions, the tunnel is being constructed on modern techniques.
Officials said that the NHAI has issued a new deadline for its completion and the construction agency has been directed to complete the work by the end of March 2020.
Meanwhile the tunnel is likely to be inaugurated by Prime Minister NarendraModi in April/May 2020. Earlier in 2018 the longest ever tunnel in South Asia constructed on Srinagar-Jammu national highway from Nashri to Chenani which spreads over 9.5 kilometers was also inaugurated by PM Modi. (JKNS)