Jammu, The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has temporarily suspended construction work on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway (NH 44) due to the development of bulges and pressure inside an under-construction tunnel, officials reported on Saturday.
A senior NHAI official revealed that they observed bulges and pressure on the side walls of the tunnel about a week ago, covering a stretch of around 150 meters. As a precautionary measure, work has been suspended for the past week, and men and machinery have been relocated from the tunnel. Out of the total 800 meters, approximately 400 meters have been excavated so far.
The affected tunnel, located in Mehar, Ramban district, aims to bypass the landslide-prone Cafeteria Morh. Construction began approximately a year and a half ago, and the NHAI is investigating the issue with the assistance of experts and designers.
The official clarified that no cracks have appeared on the affected stretch, emphasizing that the suspension is a precautionary measure rather than an abandonment of the project. Fragile Himalayan hills in Jammu and Kashmir, falling in seismic zones four and five, pose challenges to construction companies executing projects in the region.
In May last year, another under-construction tunnel near Khooni nallah in Ramban district had collapsed, resulting in the tragic death of 10 workers. The Jammu-Srinagar national highway, spanning 270 km, serves as the only all-weather surface link connecting Kashmir with the outside world.
