The 2.5-kilometer Jawahar Tunnel, once the sole gateway to Kashmir for many years, is nearing the completion of a major renovation with the addition of state-of-the-art facilities.
The Border Roads Organization (BRO) is overseeing the project aimed at modernizing the decades-old tunnel on the critical Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, transforming it into a more efficient and contemporary route.
According to Amiya Shrivastava, Commander of the 760 Border Roads Task Force (BRTF), the tunnel began experiencing severe seepage issues in 2010, damaging the road surface and prompting the need for rehabilitation.
“The lower surface of the tunnel was deteriorating. Later, lighting and ventilation problems arose. As a result, the department decided to develop a detailed project report (DPR),” he said.
The DPR was crafted to address these issues and transform the tunnel into a modern, safe infrastructure. “The tunnel was upgraded to enhance safety, security, and monitoring, alongside improving its mobility infrastructure,” Shrivastava explained.
Key upgrades include new concrete surfaces in tunnel tubes, advanced ventilation jet fans, an improved lighting system, and sophisticated monitoring technologies.
The renovation also introduced emergency speaker systems, road sign systems, and a SCADA system for real-time monitoring of the tunnel’s performance. The system will be managed from a central control room based on sensor data.
The restoration work, which began in July 2023, cost Rs 62.50 crore and is scheduled for completion within 18 months. “We began the project last July, and we are nearly done this year,” Shrivastava noted.
Until 2022, the Jawahar Tunnel-named after India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru-was the only access point linking Kashmir with the rest of India. Constructed in 1954 by a German engineering company, its significance diminished after the opening of the 8.45-kilometer Qazigund-Banihal Navyug Tunnel by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2022.
However, due to restrictions on hazardous goods transport through the newer tunnel, the Jawahar Tunnel remains vital for certain vehicle movements, including trucks carrying LPG and fuel tankers.
The BRO is responsible for both the construction and maintenance of the tunnel. The renovated eastern and western tubes will soon be open to traffic.
Officials suggest that the tunnel, situated at an altitude of 2,200 meters in the Pir Panjal range near the Banihal Pass, could also become a tourist attraction for those visiting Jammu and Kashmir.
Jawahar Tunnel renovation nears completion with modern facilities
