KISHTWAR: Strongly advocating for construction of proposed 10-Km long ( 5km of two tubes each) Singpora-Vailoo tunnel connecting Kishtwar with Kashmir Valley, Senior Congress Leader and MLA Inderwal G M Saroori, on Thursday said it will help to provide a nearest all weather alternate highway between Jammu to Srinagar and will help in its holistic development.
Saroori said on completion, the tunnel will go a long way in developing a mega Tourism Circuit comprising of Lakhanpur-Bani-Basoli-Chatergala-Bhadarwah-Kishtwar-Chatroo and Kashmir Valley, thereby bringing socio-economic prosperity in the entire region.
“Chatroo-Singpora-Vailoo Tunnel is of prime importance both from defence purpose as well as from road connective purpose. He said that the proposed tunnel will shorten the traveling distance from eight to two hours on one hand and will facilitate tourists, especially Amarnath pilgrims on the other hand,” said Saroori.
Saroori said that Jammu-Srinagar NH1 always remained closed most of the time due to landslides or sinking of road patches at various places every next day whereas the Singpora-Vailoo Tunnel will be without sliding, sinking zone and the same will remain open through out the year. He alleged that certain vested interests who don’t want that the twin districts of Doda and Kishtwar should get connected to Kashmir region are deliberately in connivance with some agencies are creating hurdle in the completion of the formalities of the project.
He demanded an immediate start of construction on this important tunnel which the former Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh has sanctioned out og the 10 tunnels in the country and also finds mentioned in the President of India address in the parliament in 2013.