Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. JAMMU: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Raman Suri today welcomed the issuance of tenders for the 10-kilometer tunnel connecting the Chenab Valley region to Kashmir, calling it a landmark step toward ending decades of seasonal isolation faced by the residents of Kishtwar, Doda, and surrounding areas. The proposed Singhpora–Vailoo tunnel, connecting Kishtwar with Anantnag through the Sinthan Pass corridor, is a Central Government project being implemented through the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) under the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
He noted that the Jammu-Srinagar highway has long been prone to closures during heavy snowfall, stranding hundreds of vehicles and cutting off the region for days at a stretch. The new tunnel, once completed, will give the Jammu division a 12-month, all-weather link to Kashmir via the Kishtwar-Anantnag axis, a route currently limited by heavy snow accumulation near Sinthan Top.
This Project, Raman Suri said forms part of the NH-244 corridor and is aimed at providing an all-weather link between the Chenab Valley and south Kashmir and is estimated to cost around ₹3,567.5 crore. He further stated that the project is expected to boost tourism in Doda and Kishtwar, both of which remain underexplored due to poor road connectivity despite their natural beauty.
He pointed to Bhaderwah’s seasonal tourist inflow as evidence of the region’s untapped potential, and said year-round connectivity to Kashmir would also strengthen inter-regional trade. He credited the tunnel-and-road network built across hill areas in recent years for already easing life for residents, and expressed confidence that this project would replicate that impact for the Chenab Valley.
He said that the Union Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is undertaking large-scale infrastructure development in Jammu Kashmir, with tunnels and roads transforming connectivity in remote and mountainous areas and making life easier for the people. Suri said that several areas that remained cut off during the winter months are now being connected through all-weather road links and tunnels.
He pointed out that the Kishtwar–Anantnag road link, once completed, will provide an important alternative route and improve connectivity between the two regions. The project will also help open up areas that remain inaccessible for long periods and provide a more convenient route for the movement of people and goods. He said the objective is to ensure that residents do not face the hardships of isolation during snowfall and inclement weather and can remain connected with the rest of the region throughout the year.
Raman Suri said the connectivity provided by such projects would give a major boost to tourism and local economic activity. Improved roads will allow tourists to reach remote destinations more easily, while better movement of agricultural and other local products can strengthen trade and provide new livelihood opportunities to residents.