Centre clears Chenani–Nashri tunnel expansion to two lanes, says Jitendra Singh.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh recently announced that a proposal to construct a new two-lane tube tunnel parallel to the existing Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel on the Chenani–Nashri stretch has been approved, marking a major infrastructure upgrade on the strategic Jammu–Srinagar National Highway.

The proposed tunnel will connect Udhampur with Ramban and is expected to ease growing traffic congestion on the busy NH-44 corridor. Singh described the development as “another good news for Udhampur” and thanked Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari for approving the proposal.

In a post on X, Singh said the new tunnel would help decongest the existing route and improve ease of travel, acknowledging the role of the National Highways Authority of India and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in clearing the project.

The existing Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel, formerly known as the Chenani–Nashri Tunnel, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 2, 2017. Spanning 9.28 km, the twin-tube all-weather tunnel passes through the lower Himalayas at an altitude of around 1,200 metres and is considered India’s longest road tunnel.

Renamed in 2019 in honour of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the tunnel has significantly reduced travel time on the Jammu–Srinagar highway and improved year-round connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country.

Officials said the proposed parallel two-lane tube is expected to enhance traffic capacity, improve road safety, and strengthen the resilience of this critical national highway link.