BuzzBytes News Network
NEW DELHI, July 1: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday announced the completion of two major infrastructure projects on National Highway-44 in Jammu and Kashmir, describing them as engineering milestones that will significantly improve connectivity between Jammu and the Kashmir Valley while enhancing road safety and ensuring uninterrupted travel throughout the year.
Sharing the update on X, Gadkari said the newly completed projects bypass one of the most landslide-prone stretches of the Ramban-Banihal section of NH-44, a critical corridor that has long witnessed frequent traffic disruptions due to landslides, shooting stones and adverse weather conditions.
“These engineering marvels bypass one of the most landslide-prone stretches of the Ramban-Banihal section, ensuring safer, faster, and all-weather connectivity to the Kashmir Valley,” the Union Minister said.
He said the projects are expected to substantially reduce travel time, improve road safety and facilitate the smooth movement of tourists, local commuters, defence vehicles, freight carriers and essential supplies across the Union Territory throughout the year.
The Ramban-Banihal section of National Highway-44 is the only all-weather surface road linking the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country. Every year, heavy rainfall, snowfall, landslides and mudslides frequently force the closure of this vital highway, causing long traffic jams, delaying the transportation of essential commodities and affecting tourism, trade and emergency services.
The newly completed infrastructure is expected to address these long-standing challenges by providing a safer alternative route that avoids some of the most vulnerable stretches of the highway. Officials believe the projects will not only improve travel reliability but also strengthen the strategic connectivity of the region by ensuring uninterrupted movement of defence forces and emergency response vehicles.
The improved road network is also expected to provide a major boost to the local economy by facilitating faster transportation of agricultural produce, horticultural products and other goods from the Kashmir Valley to markets across the country. Better connectivity is likely to enhance tourism by making travel more comfortable and dependable for visitors heading to the Valley.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has been undertaking several major infrastructure projects in Jammu and Kashmir under its broader vision of modernising the region’s road network. Along with the ongoing development of tunnels, four-lane highways and express corridors, these projects aim to reduce travel time, improve resilience against natural disasters and provide seamless year-round connectivity.
The completion of the two NH-44 projects marks another significant step in strengthening the strategic and economic lifeline between Jammu and Kashmir, ensuring safer, faster and more reliable transportation for residents, businesses and visitors alike.
