Ramban, Jun 26: In a significant boost to all-weather connectivity on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Friday opened the 810-metre-long Viaduct-1 on the Magarkote-Ramsu stretch for one-way traffic, providing a long-awaited alternative to the landslide-prone Mompasi stretch in Ramban district.
The newly commissioned two-lane viaduct has been opened for vehicles travelling towards Srinagar and forms part of the ambitious four-laning project aimed at improving safety, reducing travel time and ensuring uninterrupted movement on the Valley’s only surface link with the rest of the country.
Project consultant Anil Sharma said the Magarkote-Ramsu project is being executed by Ceigall India Private Limited under the National Highways Authority of India at an estimated cost of Rs 369 crore. Construction work on the project began in 2021.
He said the commissioning of Viaduct-1 marks a major engineering milestone as it bypasses the Mompasi stretch, one of the most vulnerable portions of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which has repeatedly witnessed landslides, shooting stones and road subsidence, particularly during the monsoon.
“With the opening of Viaduct-1, all Srinagar-bound traffic has been diverted through the new alignment. This will significantly reduce the risk faced by commuters on the old road, which frequently remained blocked due to landslides and shooting stones,” Sharma said.
He said the Mompasi stretch has historically been one of the biggest bottlenecks on NH-44, with road closures often lasting several hours as agencies struggled to clear debris following landslides.
“During heavy rains, commuters were often stranded for long hours because restoration work after landslides took considerable time. The new viaduct is designed to eliminate such disruptions and provide safe and smooth year-round movement of traffic,” he said.
According to the project consultant, the entire Magarkote-Ramsu package comprises nearly six kilometres of bridge structures, making it one of the most significant infrastructure projects on the national highway.
He said Viaduct-2 has already been completed, while construction of Viaduct-3 and Viaduct-4 is progressing rapidly. Viaduct-4 is expected to be opened for traffic within the next few days, while the remaining structures are targeted for completion within one year.
At present, only Srinagar-bound vehicles are using the newly opened viaduct. Sharma said work on a connecting ramp is in its final stage and is expected to be completed within the next two days.
“Once the connecting ramp is completed, traffic from both Jammu and Srinagar directions will be shifted onto the viaduct system, further improving traffic flow and safety,” he said.
He said the completion of the entire Rs 369-crore project will transform the Magarkote-Ramsu stretch by eliminating recurring disruptions caused by landslides and falling rocks, besides reducing travel time and ensuring reliable all-weather connectivity on NH-44.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway serves as the lifeline of Kashmir, and the completion of the Magarkote-Ramsu viaduct project is expected to significantly strengthen connectivity, particularly during the rainy season when the Mompasi stretch has frequently witnessed traffic disruptions and prolonged highway closures.
