Ramban-Banihal NH project incomplete
Srinagar, Feb 13: The most vulnerable and incomplete portions of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44) - particularly the Ramban-Banihal and Dalwas sectors will now be completed between April 2026 and June 2027, the government said.
Responding to an unstarred question by MLA Sajad Shaheen, the Public Works (R&B) Department in a written reply to the Assembly furnished stretch-wise details of physical and financial progress, revised completion timelines, and reasons for delay.
The Ramban-Banihal stretch, considered the most landslide-prone portion of the 270-km National Highway, remains under execution despite completion of balance and value-addition works covering 16.66 km between 'km 151' and 'km 187' portion on June 13, 2024.
Three major engineering packages aimed at bypassing chronic landslide zones are still incomplete.
Construction of a 4.38-km four-lane twin-tube tunnel between Marog and Digol has achieved 21.75 percent physical progress and 21.57 percent financial progress.
Originally scheduled for completion on August 11, 2025, the project missed several deadlines and is now likely to be completed by June 30, 2027.
The government attributed the delay to work stoppages and hindrances caused by locals, slow progress by the contractor, adverse weather conditions, unseasonal rains leading to road blockages, and delayed mobilisation of manpower and machinery.
A second tunnel package involving a 3.20-km four-lane twin-tube tunnel between Digol and Khuni Nallah has reached 85.50 percent physical progress and 84.43 percent financial progress.
Its completion date has been revised from July 30, 2024, to April 30, 2026.
The delay was attributed to non-availability of work-front from the T-4 tunnel, adverse weather conditions, traffic congestion on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, and geological cavity formation inside the tunnel.
The third incomplete component is a 6.02-km viaduct in the Ramban-Banihal section.
The structure has achieved 44.50 percent physical progress and 44.33 percent financial progress.
Initially scheduled for completion on August 2, 2024, it is now expected to be finished by December 31, 2026.
The delay has been linked to non-availability of encumbrance-free right of way and extreme weather conditions, including flash floods, landslides and excessive rainfall.
The Ramban-Banihal corridor passes through steep and fragile Himalayan terrain prone to landslides, shooting stones and flash floods, especially during heavy rainfall and monsoon seasons.
Until the remaining tunnel and viaduct packages are completed, the highway is expected to continue witnessing periodic disruptions despite ongoing mitigation efforts.
Last year, the highway remained closed for more than three weeks in April after incessant rains triggered shooting stones and washed away portions of the road along the Banihal-Ramban stretch.
The road was again shut for much of August and September as monsoon rains unleashed fresh landslides, mudslides, shooting stones, and flash floods.
During those prolonged closures, fruit-laden trucks carrying apples to markets outside Jammu and Kashmir were stranded along the highway.
Large quantities of produce rotted in transit, causing losses running into millions for the region’s horticulture industry.
“The horticulture industry suffered losses running into millions,” the growers said.
In the Udhampur-Ramban stretch, including the Dalwas sector, 2.2 km of tunnel and viaduct works at identified sliding and slip zones were completed on December 20, 2025, to address recurring landslides.
Four-laning from Nashri to Ramban 'km 130 to km 151', covering 17.5 km, was completed on November 25, 2024, while four-laning from Udhampur to Chenani 'km 67 to km 89', spanning 19 km, was completed on the same date.
The 10.89-km Chenani-Nashri tunnel project 'km 89 to km 130' was completed earlier on March 8, 2017.
In the Jammu-Udhampur sector, the 64.57-km stretch 'km 15 to km 67', including the Samroli–Udhampur portion, was completed on May 31, 2018.
The 15-km Jammu Bypass 'km 0 to km 15' was completed on June 30, 2012.
Beyond Ramban-Banihal, the 2.3-km Banihal Bypass 'km 187 to km 189.35' was completed on February 24, 2025.
The Qazigund–Banihal stretch 'km 189.35 to km 220.70', covering 16.27 km and including 8.45 km of twin-tube tunnels, was completed on December 15, 2022.
The 65.41-km Qazigund-Srinagar four-laning project was provisionally completed on March 27, 2018.
The four- laning project of Srinagar-Jammu National Highway had been divided into six sub-projects, which include widening of 67.7 km Srinagar-Qazigund stretch, 15.25 km Qazigund-Banihal stretch, 36-km Banihal-Ramban stretch, 43-km Ramban-Udhampur stretch, 9.2 km Chenani-Nashri stretch, and 65-km Jammu-Udhampur stretch.
On slope protection, soil stabilisation, tunnels, and viaducts, the government said works were under execution at vulnerable locations as per approved designs.
It said special attention was being given to geologically fragile stretches, with protective measures and continuous monitoring in place.
“To ensure traffic safety and uninterrupted execution of works, particularly in landslide-prone zones, adequate machinery has been deployed for prompt clearance of debris, and traffic is being regulated in coordination with the Traffic Police,” the government said. “Barricading, signage and standard safety protocols are being implemented to facilitate smooth movement.”
