The Border Roads Organisation has put forward a proposal to the government to construct a road tunnel in Jammu & Kashmir at the cost of Rs 9,000 crore, Press Trust of India reports.
Spread along the Line of Control, the tunnel will be of strategic importance as it will connect Gurez town in Bandipora district of Jammu & Kashmir with the rest of the valley throughout the year.
If approved, the tunnel will become India's longest road tunnel.
"We have submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for construction of an 18-kilometre tunnel at Razdhan pass to connect Gurez with the rest of the valley throughout the year," Brigadier AK Das, Chief Engineer BRO, told PTI.
Gurez valley remains cut off during the winter months due to heavy snowfall. It has also been used as an infiltration route by militants, .
The BRO has also sent three more proposals to the central government for building other strategic tunnels in the region. "These include a 6.5-kilometre tunnel at Sadhna that will improve the connectivity with the Tangdhar area (along the LoC) in Kupwara district, another at Furkian (Keran Sector) and a 3.5-km tunnel at Zamindar Gali (Macchil Sector)," Dsa said.
According to its website, the Border Roads Organisation develops and maintains road networks along India's border and its neighbours. It is staffed by troops of Army Service Corps, Indian Army's Corps of Engineers, Military police and other army personnel.
[1,000 crore= 10 billion]
