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JAMMU: The National Highway Authority of India Thursday opened for traffic T5 tunnel, a 870-metre tunnel that bypasses landslide-prone stretch of the mountainous road between Panthial and Magerkote, on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban district.
Though the new tunnel will only reduce the distance by only 1.1 km, it will avoid threat to human lives from stones rolling down the mountains and frequent blockages on NH44, making the journey between Jammu and Srinagar smooth and quick.
The tunnel was opened for traffic at a simple function, without giving it any publicity following directions from J&K Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kimar Mehta through Ramban Deputy Commissioner Mussarat Islam.
Many commuters and workers engaged in road clearance operations have lost their lives over the years on the Panthial stretch due to shooting stones.
On an average, over 10,000-11,000 vehicles ply on the highway on a daily basis. The supplies to and from Kashmir are transported through NH44.
According to sources, the Panthyal side of T5 tunnel will be connected with another 3 km-long tunnel coming from Digdol side through a bridge and its other side with another 600-metre tunnel coming from Khooni Nullah. Another adjacent tunnel running parallel to T5 will be constructed later, they added.
The four-lane road widening project of the 270-km NH44, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was started in 2011. After having missed several deadlines, the project is likely to be completed by next year.
