25 tunnels to cut Srinagar-Jammu travel time to 3 hours, says Nitin Gadkari

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday unveiled a series of major road and tunnel projects for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, promising that travel time between Srinagar and Jammu will be reduced to just three hours once ongoing works are completed.

Speaking in Ladakh during the breakthrough ceremony of the Zojila Tunnel, Gadkari said highway and high-speed corridor projects worth nearly ₹2 lakh crore are currently under development in Jammu & Kashmir, while road and tunnel projects worth around ₹18,000 crore are being implemented between Kargil and Leh.

“For J&K, we are undertaking projects worth ₹2 lakh crore, including ₹60,000 crore dedicated to high-speed corridors,” he said.

Gadkari noted that four major high-speed corridors are under construction to strengthen connectivity across the Union Territory. He highlighted the progress of the ₹16,000-crore Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar four-laning project, describing it as a critical lifeline for the region.

According to the minister, about 95% of the project has been completed, with the remaining work expected to finish by December 2027. The project includes 25 tunnels, of which 20 are already operational, while work continues on the remaining five.

He said the decision to build tunnels was taken after recurring disruptions caused by landslides and adverse weather conditions. Once completed, the corridor will shorten the route by nearly 70 kilometres.

Travel time on the Jammu-Srinagar highway has already fallen from around nine hours to four hours, Gadkari said, adding that the completion of the remaining tunnels will bring it down further.

“My dream is that Srinagar to Jammu travel should take only three hours, and I assure you that by the end of this year and into next year, that dream will become a reality,” he said.

Among the major corridors under development are the Jammu-Chenani-Anantnag route, aimed at improving connectivity between the Chenab Valley and Kashmir Valley; the Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri corridor to strengthen transport links in north Kashmir; and the Jammu-Akhnoor-Poonch corridor, which is expected to significantly improve access to border districts.

The minister also announced several new projects, including the Katra-Srinagar high-speed corridor, the Rafiabad-Kupwara-Chowkibal-Tangdhar road project and the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri corridor.

A section of the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road will be upgraded to a four-lane highway at an estimated cost of ₹1,500 crore. Gadkari said the detailed project report (DPR) is expected to be completed by July and that the project will reduce travel time between Srinagar and Sonamarg from about 2.5 hours to just 45 minutes.

Another major announcement was the proposed 170-km Surankote-Bafliaz-Doodhpathri-Magam road project, estimated to cost ₹4,000 crore. The project will include an 8-km Peer Ki Gali tunnel and is expected to improve connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir regions.

The minister said these projects would enhance access to remote and border areas, support tourism and horticulture, and strengthen strategic infrastructure.

In Ladakh, Gadkari said road and tunnel projects worth ₹18,000 crore are underway. Key initiatives include the Kargil-Zanskar-Padum highway, which is expected to improve connectivity to the Zanskar region and facilitate military movement.

To ease congestion in Leh, north and south bypass roads are also being developed to allow seamless travel towards Srinagar, Manali and Khardung La without passing through the city.

He further highlighted plans for the Fatu-La Twin-Tube Tunnel and the Kela Pass Tunnel, projects aimed at ensuring all-weather connectivity and improving access to major tourist destinations, including Pangong Lake.