Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the country’s longest road tunnel that links the Kashmir Valley with Jammu. The tunnel, bypassing snow-bound upper reaches, will reduce the journey time by two hours and provide a safe, all-weather route to commuters travelling from Jammu and Udhampur to Ramban, Banihal and Srinagar.
Here are some interesting facts about the Chenani-Nashri tunnel:
- Built at Rs 3,720 crore, the tunnel will reduce the distance between Jammu and Srinagar from 41 km to 9.2 km
- 1,500 engineers, geologists, skilled workers and labourers worked on the project
- 92.7 FM is mandatory for vehicles where emergency messages will be relayed
- 6,000 LED multiple colour lights will be used to break monotony
- GSM phones will work inside the tunnel. 118 SOS boxes have been set up, one every 150 metres on both sides
- Smoke and heat dampeners will react quickly in fire incidents
- 118 CCTVs, one every 75 metres
- At 5Okm/hr speed, the tunnel is a 12 to 15 minutes drive
- Each tube has a diameter of 13 metres, while sideway has a diameter of 6 metres
- Rs. 27 Lakh fuel savings a day
- Comprises two tubes and 29 cross-passages, with special lane for exigencies
- Air quality monitors every 12 metres will keep a check on carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, guiding exhaust fans and air purification
- Automated Integrated Traffic Control System will monitor traffic round-the-clock and overheated vehicle will be made to stop for cooling off
- Vehicle distance to be maintained at three metres
