Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel: Difference between revisions

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by 2409:4054:289:A4A8:C35F:98D6:3934:CEB8
Last edited June 26, 2022
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
 
UpdateBot (talk | contribs)
Bots
22,126 edits
m robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit)
 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|road tunnel in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir connecting Banihal and Qazigand}}  
{{Short description|Road tunnel in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir connecting Banihal and Qazigand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox tunnel
{{Infobox tunnel
|name        =Qazigund Road Tunnel  
|name        =Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel  
|image_size  =  
|image_size  =  
|caption      =Left side tube of tunnel from North portal of Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel  
|caption      =Left side tube of tunnel from North portal of Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel  
Line 17: Line 18:
|traffic      = Automotive
|traffic      = Automotive
|engineer=  
|engineer=  
|character    =All Types of Vehicles
|toll        = {{Purple|Qazigund Toll Plaza}}
|toll        = {{Purple|Qazigund Toll Plaza}}
|vpd          =  
|vpd          =  
Line 23: Line 23:
|length      = {{convert|8.45|km|ft|abbr=on}}  
|length      = {{convert|8.45|km|ft|abbr=on}}  
|lanes        = 2 Lanes per Tube<br />(4 Lanes total in Twin-Tube with [[Dual carriageway]])
|lanes        = 2 Lanes per Tube<br />(4 Lanes total in Twin-Tube with [[Dual carriageway]])
|speed        ={{convert|40|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}  
|speed        ={{convert|70|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}  
|hielevation  = {{convert|1790|m|abbr=on}}
|hielevation  = {{convert|1790|m|abbr=on}}
|height      =  
|height      =  
|width        ={{convert|7|m|ft|0}}  
|width        ={{convert|7|m|ft|0}}  
|grade        =  
|grade        =  
|opened=4 August 2021|location=[[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[India]] {{flagicon|India}}|image=File:Qazigund - Banihal road tunnel.png}}
|opened=4 August 2021|location=[[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[India]] {{flagicon|India}}|image=Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel.png}}
'''Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel''' is a [[road tunnel]] in  [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], India. It is located in the Lower Himalayas, on [[National Highway 44 (India)|National Highway 44]]. Construction started in 2011 and was completed by 2021.
'''Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel''' is a [[road tunnel]] in  [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], India. It is located in the Lower Himalayas, on [[National Highway 44 (India)|National Highway 44]]. Its Construction started in 2011 and was completed in 2021.


It is one of the longest tunnel in India, with a length of {{cvt|8.45|km}}  The tunnel reduces the distance between [[Srinagar]] and [[Jammu]] by 16&nbsp;km.<ref>{{cite news
It is one of the longest tunnel in India, with a length of {{cvt|8.45|km}}  The tunnel reduces the distance between [[Srinagar]] and [[Jammu]] by 16&nbsp;km.<ref>{{cite news
|url=https://amp/s/auto.hindustantimes.com/auto/news/allweather-tunnel-linking-jammu-and-srinagar-in-kashmir-to-be-open-soon/amp-41623044041231.html?espv=1
|url=https://auto.hindustantimes.com/auto/news/allweather-tunnel-linking-jammu-and-srinagar-in-kashmir-to-be-open-soon/amp-41623044041231.html?espv=1 |title=All-weather tunnel linking Jammu and Srinagar to open soon. All you must know |access-date=10 June 2021}}</ref> It also reduces travel time from 2–3 hours to 15 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=J-K: 8.5 Km Qazigund-Banihal tunnel in final stage of construction, to open soon|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/j-k-85-km-qazigund-banihal-tunnel-in-final-stage-of-construction-to-open-soon20210612103315/|access-date=2021-08-05|website=ANI News|language=en}}</ref>
|title=All-weather tunnel linking Jammu and Srinagar to open soon. All you must know|access-date=10 June 2021}}</ref> It also reduces travel time from 2-3 hours to 15 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=J-K: 8.5 Km Qazigund-Banihal tunnel in final stage of construction, to open soon|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/j-k-85-km-qazigund-banihal-tunnel-in-final-stage-of-construction-to-open-soon20210612103315/|access-date=2021-08-05|website=ANI News|language=en}}</ref>


It is a Twin tube tunnel consisting of two parallel tunnels - one for each direction of travel. Each tunnel is {{cvt|7|m}} wide and has two lanes of road. The two tunnels are interconnected by a passage every {{cvt|500|m}} for maintenance and emergency evacuation. The tunnel will have forced ventilation for extracting smoke and stale air and infusing fresh air. It will have state of the art monitoring and control systems for security. Built at a cost of Rs. 2,100 crore, it is expected that vehicles will have to pay a toll to use the tunnel.<ref>{{Cite news|others=PTI|date=2018-05-20|title=NHAI in race to get crucial J&K tunnel ready ahead of avalanches|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/nhai-in-race-to-get-crucial-jk-tunnel-ready-ahead-of-avalanches/article23944065.ece|access-date=2021-08-08|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
It is a Twin tube tunnel consisting of two parallel tunnels - one for each direction of travel. Each tunnel is {{cvt|7|m}} wide and has two lanes of road. The two tunnels are interconnected by a passage every {{cvt|500|m}} for maintenance and emergency evacuation. The tunnel will have forced ventilation for extracting smoke and stale air and infusing fresh air. It will have state of the art monitoring and control systems for security. Built at a cost of ₹2,100 crore, it is expected that vehicles will have to pay a toll to use the tunnel.<ref>{{Cite news |agency=PTI| date=2018-05-20 |title=NHAI in race to get crucial J&K tunnel ready ahead of avalanches |language=en-IN |publisher=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/nhai-in-race-to-get-crucial-jk-tunnel-ready-ahead-of-avalanches/article23944065.ece |access-date=2021-08-08 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>


==Timeline==
==Construction==


Construction of this tunnel started in 2011 along with the project to widen [[National Highway 44 (India)|NH 44]] (which was known as [[National Highway 1A (India, old numbering)|NH 1A]] before all the national highways were [[List of National Highways in India by highway number|renumbered]] in the year 2010) to four lanes. The existing road tunnel below the Banihal pass ([[Jawahar tunnel]]), has been a bottleneck on the road due to its elevation of {{convert|2194|m|abbr=on}} and limited traffic capacity. The new tunnel's average elevation at 1,790&nbsp;m is 400&nbsp;m lower than the existing [[Jawahar tunnel]]'s elevation, which would make it less prone to avalanches. When completed, the tunnel would reduce the road distance between Banihal and Qazigund by 16&nbsp;km (10 mile).
Construction of this tunnel started in 2011 along with the project to widen [[National Highway 44 (India)|NH 44]] (which was known as [[National Highway 1A (India, old numbering)|NH 1A]] before all the national highways were [[List of National Highways in India by highway number|renumbered]] in the year 2010) to four lanes. The existing road tunnel below the Banihal pass ([[Jawahar tunnel]]), has been a bottleneck on the road due to its elevation of {{convert|2194|m|abbr=on}} and limited traffic capacity. The new tunnel's average elevation at 1,790&nbsp;m is 400&nbsp;m lower than the existing [[Jawahar tunnel]]'s elevation, which would make it less prone to avalanches. After completion, the tunnel has reduced the road distance between Banihal and Qazigund by 16&nbsp;km (10 mile).


* As of May 2016, 7.2&nbsp;km of the 8.5&nbsp;km had been excavated.<ref name=GovNow>{{cite web|url=http://www.governancenow.com/news/regular-story/tunnels-hope-in-valley | title=Tunnels of Hope in Valley, Governance Now |accessdate=19 February 2017}}</ref>
* As of May 2016, 7.2&nbsp;km of the 8.5&nbsp;km had been excavated.<ref name=GovNow>{{cite web|url=http://www.governancenow.com/news/regular-story/tunnels-hope-in-valley | title=Tunnels of Hope in Valley, Governance Now |accessdate=19 February 2017}}</ref>
* As of February 2017, the tunnel excavation was close to completion.<ref name=GKTunnels>{{cite web|url=http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/front-page/highway-travel-set-to-ease-nashri-tunnel-opening-this-month/242456.html | title=Tunnel openings |accessdate=4 March 2017}}</ref>
* As of February 2017, the tunnel excavation was close to completion.<ref name=GKTunnels>{{cite web|url=http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/front-page/highway-travel-set-to-ease-nashri-tunnel-opening-this-month/242456.html | title=Tunnel openings |accessdate=4 March 2017}}</ref>
* February 2018: Boring work of one tunnel had been completed. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/state/tube-1-of-banihal-qazigund-four-lane-tunnel-completed/274288.html|title=Tube 1 of Banihal-Qazigund four-lane tunnel completed &#124; Greater Kashmir}}</ref>
* February 2018: Boring work of one tunnel had been completed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/state/tube-1-of-banihal-qazigund-four-lane-tunnel-completed/274288.html|title=Tube 1 of Banihal-Qazigund four-lane tunnel completed &#124; Greater Kashmir}}</ref>
* May 2018: Boring of the entire 8.5&nbsp;km tunnel was completed on 20 May 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kashmirtimes.in/newsdet.aspx?q=79343|title=Banihal-Qazigund road tunnel opening likely next year: NHAI - Kashmir Times|website=www.kashmirtimes.in}}</ref>
* May 2018: Boring of the entire 8.5&nbsp;km tunnel was completed on 20 May 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kashmirtimes.in/newsdet.aspx?q=79343|title=Banihal-Qazigund road tunnel opening likely next year: NHAI - Kashmir Times|website=www.kashmirtimes.in}}</ref>
* Jan 2019:Tunnel may open for traffic by March 2020. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/concern-8-years-on-work-on-qazigund-banihal-tunnel-far-from-over/|title=CONCERN: 8 years on, work on Qazigund-Banihal tunnel far from over &#124; Greater Kashmir}}</ref>
* Jan 2019:Tunnel may open for traffic by March 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/concern-8-years-on-work-on-qazigund-banihal-tunnel-far-from-over/|title=CONCERN: 8 years on, work on Qazigund-Banihal tunnel far from over &#124; Greater Kashmir}}</ref>
* November 2019: Work progressing at slow pace; tunnel to be opened for traffic in March 2021. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/qazigund-banihal-tunnel-to-miss-5th-deadline/|title=Qazigund-Banihal tunnel to miss 5th deadline|first=Daily|last=Excelsior|date=24 November 2019}}</ref>
* November 2019: Work progressing at slow pace; tunnel to be opened for traffic in March 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/qazigund-banihal-tunnel-to-miss-5th-deadline/|title=Qazigund-Banihal tunnel to miss 5th deadline|first=Daily|last=Excelsior|date=24 November 2019}}</ref>
*25 February 2021:Tunnel likely to thrown open for traffic in April 2021<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thekashmirimages.com/2021/02/25/qazigund-banihal-tunnel-being-thrown-open-in-march/|title='Qazigund-Banihal tunnel being thrown open in March'}}</ref>
*25 February 2021:Tunnel likely to thrown open for traffic in April 2021<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thekashmirimages.com/2021/02/25/qazigund-banihal-tunnel-being-thrown-open-in-march/|title='Qazigund-Banihal tunnel being thrown open in March'}}</ref>
* 5 April 2021: opening delayed until end of April 2021.<ref>{{cite news |title=Opening of Qazigund-Banihal tunnel delayed from March end to April end |url=https://kashmirreader.com/2021/04/05/opening-of-qazigund-banihal-tunnel-delayed-from-march-end-to-april-end/ |access-date=22 April 2021 |work=Kashmir Reader |archive-url=https://archive.today/wip/0G6MO |archive-date=22 April 2021}}</ref>
* 5 April 2021: opening delayed until end of April 2021.<ref>{{cite news |title=Opening of Qazigund-Banihal tunnel delayed from March end to April end |url=https://kashmirreader.com/2021/04/05/opening-of-qazigund-banihal-tunnel-delayed-from-march-end-to-april-end/ |access-date=22 April 2021 |work=Kashmir Reader |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210422020706/https://kashmirreader.com/2021/04/05/opening-of-qazigund-banihal-tunnel-delayed-from-march-end-to-april-end/ |archive-date=22 April 2021}}</ref>
* Jun 2021: Tunnel is almost ready, could be made operations in few weeks.  
* Jun 2021: Tunnel is almost ready, could be made operations in few weeks.  
*July 2021: Tunnel could be inaugurated on the independence day by Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/infrastructure/8-5-km-all-weather-qazigund-banihal-hi-tech-tunnel-likely-to-be-operational-in-coming-weeks/videoshow/83440266.cms|title = 8.5 km all-weather Qazigund-Banihal hi-tech tunnel likely to be operational in coming weeks}}</ref>
*July 2021: Tunnel could be inaugurated on the independence day by Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/infrastructure/8-5-km-all-weather-qazigund-banihal-hi-tech-tunnel-likely-to-be-operational-in-coming-weeks/videoshow/83440266.cms|title = 8.5 km all-weather Qazigund-Banihal hi-tech tunnel likely to be operational in coming weeks}}</ref>

Latest revision as of 06:49, 26 June 2022



Template:Infobox tunnel Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel is a road tunnel in  Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is located in the Lower Himalayas, on National Highway 44. Its Construction started in 2011 and was completed in 2021.

It is one of the longest tunnel in India, with a length of 8.45 km (5.25 mi) The tunnel reduces the distance between Srinagar and Jammu by 16 km.[1] It also reduces travel time from 2–3 hours to 15 minutes.[2]

It is a Twin tube tunnel consisting of two parallel tunnels - one for each direction of travel. Each tunnel is 7 m (23 ft) wide and has two lanes of road. The two tunnels are interconnected by a passage every 500 m (1,600 ft) for maintenance and emergency evacuation. The tunnel will have forced ventilation for extracting smoke and stale air and infusing fresh air. It will have state of the art monitoring and control systems for security. Built at a cost of ₹2,100 crore, it is expected that vehicles will have to pay a toll to use the tunnel.[3]

Construction[edit | edit source]

Construction of this tunnel started in 2011 along with the project to widen NH 44 (which was known as NH 1A before all the national highways were renumbered in the year 2010) to four lanes. The existing road tunnel below the Banihal pass (Jawahar tunnel), has been a bottleneck on the road due to its elevation of 2,194 m (7,198 ft) and limited traffic capacity. The new tunnel's average elevation at 1,790 m is 400 m lower than the existing Jawahar tunnel's elevation, which would make it less prone to avalanches. After completion, the tunnel has reduced the road distance between Banihal and Qazigund by 16 km (10 mile).

  • As of May 2016, 7.2 km of the 8.5 km had been excavated.[4]
  • As of February 2017, the tunnel excavation was close to completion.[5]
  • February 2018: Boring work of one tunnel had been completed.[6]
  • May 2018: Boring of the entire 8.5 km tunnel was completed on 20 May 2018.[7]
  • Jan 2019:Tunnel may open for traffic by March 2020.[8]
  • November 2019: Work progressing at slow pace; tunnel to be opened for traffic in March 2021.[9]
  • 25 February 2021:Tunnel likely to thrown open for traffic in April 2021[10]
  • 5 April 2021: opening delayed until end of April 2021.[11]
  • Jun 2021: Tunnel is almost ready, could be made operations in few weeks.
  • July 2021: Tunnel could be inaugurated on the independence day by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[12]
  • August 2021: Tunnel was opened by Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.[13]

Location[edit | edit source]

The Southern portal (end) of the tunnel is at 33°29′22″N 75°10′22″E / 33.4895°N 75.1729°E / 33.4895; 75.1729 and the Northern portal (end) of the tunnel is at 33°33′53″N 75°11′12″E / 33.5646°N 75.1867°E / 33.5646; 75.1867.

Safety measures[edit | edit source]

The tunnel is made on Build–operate–transfer basis. It is built with an exhaust system to remove gas and bring in fresh air. It has 126 jet fans, 234 CCTV cameras and a firefighting system installed.[14]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "All-weather tunnel linking Jammu and Srinagar to open soon. All you must know". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  2. ↑ "J-K: 8.5 Km Qazigund-Banihal tunnel in final stage of construction, to open soon". ANI News. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  3. ↑ "NHAI in race to get crucial J&K tunnel ready ahead of avalanches". The Hindu. PTI. 20 May 2018. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  4. ↑ "Tunnels of Hope in Valley, Governance Now". Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  5. ↑ "Tunnel openings". Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  6. ↑ "Tube 1 of Banihal-Qazigund four-lane tunnel completed | Greater Kashmir".
  7. ↑ "Banihal-Qazigund road tunnel opening likely next year: NHAI - Kashmir Times". www.kashmirtimes.in.
  8. ↑ "CONCERN: 8 years on, work on Qazigund-Banihal tunnel far from over | Greater Kashmir".
  9. ↑ Excelsior, Daily (24 November 2019). "Qazigund-Banihal tunnel to miss 5th deadline".
  10. ↑ "'Qazigund-Banihal tunnel being thrown open in March'".
  11. ↑ "Opening of Qazigund-Banihal tunnel delayed from March end to April end". Kashmir Reader. Retrieved 22 April 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. ↑ "8.5 km all-weather Qazigund-Banihal hi-tech tunnel likely to be operational in coming weeks".
  13. ↑ "Auto News India, Car and Bikes News, Launch, Price, Features, Reviews". Hindustan Times Auto News. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  14. ↑ "8.5 km all-weather Qazi Gund-Banihal tunnel to open for public in days".
Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Banihal_Qazigund_Road_Tunnel&oldid=320768"
Discover more