NHAI to begin work on J&K’s Chattergala tunnel: Nitin Gadkari.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will begin work on the Rs 4,000-crore Chattergala tunnel at the earliest to ensure all-weather road connectivity between Kathua and Doda districts of Jammu and Kashmir, said Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in Srinagar on Monday.

Union Minister of State Jitendera Singh, who accompanied Gadkari, said the proposal for the Chattergala tunnel was initiated six years ago and a detailed project report was also prepared by the Border Roads Organisation agency Beacons. Work on it could not be undertaken due to lack of funds, he said.

NHAI will now carry out the construction of the tunnel as well as the new national highway from Kathua’s Lakhanpur, which will pass through the tourist spots of Basohli and Bani to Bhaderwah and Doda, Singh said.

THE INDIAN EXPRESS