‘Singphora-Vailoo tunnel project at bidding stage, completion period 60 months’
Srinagar, Sep 25 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir government has said that the alignment finalisation of the proposed Peer Ki Gali and Sadhna tunnels is underway, while the Singphora-Vailoo tunnel project is presently at the bidding stage.
The government stated this in response to an un-starred question raised by MLA Irfan Hafiz Lone regarding the construction of tunnels and the steps being taken for timely execution of the proposed projects.
In its reply, the Public Works (R&B) Department said the Peer Ki Gali tunnel on the Mughal Road, having an approximate length of 8.51 km, is being executed by Project BEACON.
The department said alignment finalisation is under progress and compliance with observations raised by the Additional Director General (Tunnel), MoRTH, during a site visit held between June 17 and June 19, 2026, was furnished to MoRTH on September 9, 2026.
“Approval awaited. DPR will be prepared after approval of the alignment. Actual timeline shall be decided after approval of DPR from MoRTH,” the government said.
Regarding the Sadhna Tunnel on the Kupwara-Karnah road, having an approximate length of 7.82 km, the government said the project is also being executed by Project BEACON and alignment finalisation is under progress.
It said compliance with observations raised by the ADG (Tunnel), MoRTH, during a site visit held between June 17 and June 19, 2026, was furnished to MoRTH on September 9, 2026.
“Approval awaited. DPR will be prepared after approval of the alignment. Actual timeline shall be decided after approval of DPR from MoRTH,” the department said.
On the Singphora-Vailoo tunnel, approximately 10 km in length, the government said the project is presently at the bidding stage and has a stipulated completion period of 60 months from the appointed date.
Regarding the status of proposals for construction of the Baba Reshi-Gulmarg Road, Hajibal-Gratbal-Daji-Baba Reshi Road, Cherry Valley Road and Dandmuh-Satrissan Road, the government provided separate updates.
It said the DPR for the Baba Reshi-Gulmarg Road, from Chontwari via Baba Reshi to Gulmarg, amounting to Rs 4,034.25 lakh, has been prepared in compliance with the verbal directions of the Chief Minister during a review of District Baramulla on October 14, 2025.
The proposed alignment passes through dense forest areas and requires forest clearance as well as assured funding, it said.
The Hajibal-Gratbal-Daji-Baba Reshi road has been macadamised during the current financial year under the Cities & Towns Programme, while the DPR for the Cherry Valley Road will be prepared only after assured funding and forest clearance are available.
On the Dandmuh-Satrissan Road, the government said the project, namely the Kalantra-Dandmoh Satrissan Nagbal road, has a length of 10 km and an estimated cost of Rs 15 crore.
It said the project stands prioritised under CRIF 2026-27 and has been forwarded to the Government of India for approval, with sanction still awaited.
Regarding the present status of the Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction Agency (JKERA), the government said the agency is presently undertaking financial closure of the World Bank-funded Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP), which was physically completed on August 31, 2026.
The financial closure process is scheduled to continue up to December 31, 2026, it said, adding that a detailed status of JKERA, including externally aided projects, ongoing sub-projects and available human resources—(KNO)
