Jammu, Aug 6: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday inspected the under-construction Sungal Tunnel on the Jammu-Poonch National Highway and reviewed the progress of works, with officials indicating that the project is nearing completion and is expected to be opened to all traffic shortly.

During the visit, the Chief Minister was briefed on the status of the 2.79-kilometre tunnel, which has already been opened for the movement of ambulances and other essential services as part of phased operationalisation.
The Sungal Tunnel, constructed on National Highway-144A, also known as the Golden Arc Road, is designed to bypass the accident-prone Kalidhar-Chowki Choura stretch, providing a safer and more reliable all-weather road link between Jammu and Poonch.
Officials informed the Chief Minister that work on the remaining components of the project is in its final stages and that the tunnel is expected to be thrown open to the general public in the near future.
The tunnel is expected to significantly improve connectivity to the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch by reducing travel time and ensuring smoother movement, particularly during adverse weather conditions.