Minister for R&B, Abdul Majid Wani called upon the Union Government for according sanction for construction of two tunnels at Sudhmahadev and Dessa to connect Sudh Mahadev with Marmat Doda and Dessa Doda with Kapran in Kashmir valley, besides declaring Pul Doda Exit (Pul Doda) Desa – Gai – Hingipora – Kapran – Verinag road in District Doda & Anantnag as National Highway.Wani highlighted the importance for construction of alternative road with tunnels to connect Jammu pision with Kashmir valley via Chenani Mantalai-Sudh Mahadev road of Udhampur district and Marmat- Doda-Dessa road of Doda and Kapran of Anantnag District in Kashmir Valley, saying that the existing National Highway NH1A remains overburdened throughout the year during annual tourist season and holy annual Shri Amarnathji Yatra. He further said that the NH1B Batote- Kishtwar road has also been declared unsafe due to the pondage of Baglihar reservoir and not advisable for frequent use of traffic.
Pointing out the distance from Chennani in Udhampur district, located on the National High Way NH1A to Sudh Mahadev is only 24 kilometres, the Minister said that the first two and half kilometre long tunnel was proposed to be constructed for connecting Sudh Mahadev with Marmat in Doda district. He said covering a distance of approximately 78 kilometers to reach Dessa in Doda, where the second tunnel (seven and half kilometer long) has been proposed to be constructed, which will connect Dessa with Kapran Dooru in Anantnag district, near gateway of Pahalgam (Base camp of Amarnath Yatra) in Kashmir Valley. The BRO has also been asked to conduct feasibility investigations for these projects.Wani also called for declaring of Pul Doda Exit (Pul Doda) Desa – Gai – Hingipora – Kapran – Verinag road in Doda & Anantnag Districts as National Highway in view of its economic, geographic, demographic importance, saying that it would go a long way in exploiting tourism potential, besides promote trade activities in these areas.