The Centre’s approval of two mega tunnel projects on National Highway-244 is a lifeline for the people of Doda, Kishtwar, and Udhampur. The two tunnels will cost an estimated 9,779.42 crore rupees. The Sudhmahadev–Dranga tunnel will be 12.85 kilometres long, and the Singhpora–Vailoo tunnel will stretch 38.61 kilometres. Together, they will change how people travel across some of the most difficult and weather-prone areas of Jammu and Kashmir, which have been neglected for far too long. This is a truly historic moment. The Union government, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, deserve full appreciation for prioritising the integration of this region with the rest of the country. The benefits of these tunnels cannot be overstated. Stretching over 50 kilometres in total, they will provide smooth, all-weather connectivity between the Chenab Valley and South Kashmir. For decades, residents have suffered immensely every winter and during bad weather, when road closures left them cut off from essential services, markets, and opportunities. A journey that once took hours of dangerous driving will now become much shorter. This will save time, fuel, and most importantly, lives. The economic impact will be equally transformative. The Chenab Valley is naturally beautiful, rich in culture, and full of tourism potential that remains untapped. Poor connectivity has kept this potential hidden for years. With these tunnels, goods will move faster, trade will grow, and tourists will finally be able to reach the region’s unexplored landscapes reliably. Local businesses, artisans, and farmers will find bigger markets for their products. Healthcare and education, which once felt like distant dreams during winter months, will become accessible throughout the year. The quality of life for residents will improve beyond measure. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has rightly expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and the Union Minister. His earlier intervention, when he wrote to the Centre highlighting delays and seeking urgent action, shows how cooperative federalism can work when the Centre responds quickly. The people of Chenab Valley have waited long enough. Now, with the revival and advancement of these projects, that wait is finally ending. Tunnels are not just roads through mountains. They are bridges to opportunity, lifelines to services, and carriers of hope. The Centre has done its part. Now the responsibility lies with the agencies that will build these tunnels to complete them on time. The Chenab Valley is watching. And for the first time in decades, it is watching with hope.
Jammu and Kashmir's economic future will not be built by any single actor. Not by the government alone, not by industry alone, and certainly not by academia working in isolation. The region's...
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