When Progress Leaves the Past Behind |
In the long and layered history of Jammu and Kashmir’s connectivity with the rest of the country, few roads have carried as much weight of geography, emotion and national importance as National Highway 44. Cutting through the towering Himalayas, this lifeline has for decades linked Jammu with Srinagar, carrying passengers, essential goods, security convoys and the hopes of millions. Yet it has also been defined by fragility, unpredictability and repeated tragedy. The opening of the Digdol–Panthyal Twin Tube Tunnel on the Ramban–Banihal stretch marks a historic moment of transition, standing at the intersection of progress, criticism and condolence.
The Digdol–Panthyal Tunnel is a 3.5 km engineering marvel developed under the EPC mode. The Letter of Acceptance for the project was signed on 03-09-2021 for an estimated cost of ₹ 846 crore and construction began on 01-02-2022. As part of the ongoing four-lanning of NH-44, the tunnel has been designed to provide a safe, fast and all-weather alternative through one of the most hazardous stretches of the highway. It is a critical intervention in a region where nature has always dictated the terms of movement.
For decades, the Ramban, Digdol and Panthyal stretch on NH-44 was known for its extreme vulnerability and constant disruption. Locals and frequent travellers often referred to it as Khooni Nallah, a name that reflected not exaggeration but lived reality. The road was infamous for falling........