Srinagar, Jul 11: The National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) is expected to invite fresh tenders in October for the Singhpora-Vailoo and Sudhmahadev-Dranga tunnel projects on the Anantnag-Kishtwar-Batote corridor.
“We have already received official communication regarding the approval and are likely to re-tender the Singhpora–Vailoo tunnel project in October,” NHIDCL General Manager Raghu Nath Sharma told Greater Kashmir.
“We will also invite tenders for the Sudhmahadev-Dranga tunnel project,” he said. Sharma said the tendering process requires technical and financial approvals, which are already underway. The tunnels are part of National Highway-244, a strategic route linking Kashmir with the Chenab Valley.
He said land acquisition for the approach roads to the Singhpora-Vailoo tunnel has been completed on both the Kashmir and Jammu sides. “An amount of Rs 78 crore has been sanctioned, and more than half of the compensation has already been disbursed,” Sharma said. “On the Jammu side, land acquisition is complete and compensation is being released.”
The Singhpora-Vailoo project includes more than 38.61 km of approach roads, while the Sudhmahadev-Dranga project has 12.85 km of approach roads. “Land acquisition for the approach road to the Sudhmahadev-Dranga tunnel has also been completed and compensation is in progress,” Sharma said. He said Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for both tunnels have already been finalised.
The Centre approved the two tunnel projects in April at an estimated cost of Rs 9779.42 crore. The approval was formalized through an Office Memorandum issued after a Public Investment Board (PIB) meeting held on April 7. The projects had earlier suffered setbacks.
A previous tender for the Singhpora-Vailoo tunnel was scrapped in 2024 after security clearance was denied to the lowest bidder, a joint venture between Transrail Lighting and Azerbaijan-based EVRASCON.
In April last year, The Times of India reported that the PIB, chaired by the expenditure secretary, had rejected both tunnel proposals on the Anantnag-Chenani corridor over cost and technical concerns.
The decision drew criticism from political leaders and residents of the Chenab Valley and south Kashmir. Despite the setback, NHIDCL had maintained that the projects would be re-tendered. In April, Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced that the Centre had approved construction of the uni-directional twin-tube Sudhmahadev-Dranga tunnels and the twin-tube Singhpora-Vailoo tunnel on NH-244.
Earlier, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari informed the Rajya Sabha that DPRs for both projects had been completed and the proposals were under appraisal. He was responding to a query from NC MP Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo on the status of the projects, including clearances, funding and timelines. The Singhpora-Vailoo tunnel is expected to bypass the snowbound Sinthan Pass, which frequently disrupts traffic during winter.
The Anantnag-Kokernag-Kishtwar road currently remains open only during the summer months because of heavy snowfall.
Once completed, the tunnels are expected to reduce travel time, improve road safety, provide an alternative to the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44), and strengthen tourism and economic activity between Kashmir and the Chenab Valley.
