Jawahar Tunnel Gateway to Kashmir :
Prior to the construction of the Jawahar Tunnel, people used to cross Pirpanjal using a mountain pass high up in the range with tough terrains to enter Kashmir it used to take them days to reach the valley and there was no proper portable road for vehicles and during the harsh winter season the valley used to remain cut off from rest of the country and with the result, great hardships and discomfort was faced by the people overall as there was no proper road connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir.
Theredorer It was felt great urgency and need of the hour by the then Government to construct a tunnel by piercing Pirpanjan Mountain at any cost to connect the Paradise with the rest of the country so that deprivations of people are resolved as well to ensure the availability of essential commodities of life as well promote and boost business, trade, tourism, and economy of the people. Therefore this tunnel was constructed with the Help of German Engineers Alfred Kunz and C. Barsel between 1954 and 1956 to facilitate round-the-year road connectivity to Srinagar from Jammu after piercing the Mountain Peer Panjal with the rest of the country.
The tunnel was named after the name of then Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru "Jawahar Tunnel". It was made operational on December 22, 1956, for vehicles and was the longest tunnel in Asia. It is not a single tunnel but it is a set of two long wet tubes, each 2,825 meters long & the length of this tunnel is 2.85 Km(1.77mi). It has one lane road in either direction and is situated on Banihal and Qazigund National Highway.
This tunnel facilities round year-road connectivity between Srinagar and with the rest of the country. It was taken by Border Roads Organization(BRO) under the project BEACON in 1960 for its maintenance, renovation, and proper up-keen. The tunnel was initially designed for 150 Vehicles per day and nowadays 7000 vehicles in both directions can pass daily through this tunnel after its proper repair and renovation by BRO.
Banihal Tunnel climate :
The tunnel has a proper two-way ventilation system, pollution and temperature sensors, lighting system with emergency phones for assistance installed by the Border Roads organization. CCTV is also installed in the tunnel for proper monitoring and surveillance of continuous traffic. It is guarded by paramilitary forces around the clock and there are complete restrictions on videography and photography inside or around the tunnel.
The tunnel has been made open for civilian traffic after 2009 for some fixed hours. This tunnel is beautifully designed as well maintained by Border Roads Organization till date whose role is laudable and appreciable in all forms. The scenic beauty around the whole mountainous range in the vicinity is amazing and fascinating with all-time pleasant weather conditions. The tunnel is equipped inside with pollution and temperature sensors, with a proper lighting system, a ventilation system, and emergency phones to tackle situations in emergency matters.
New Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel:
New Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel, an alternate new tunnel whose construction was started by Government of India got completed in the year 2021. This new gate way to Kashmir was thrown open for traffic on 4th August 2021. This new tunnel is one of the longest tunnels in India with a length of about 8.45 kilometres. With the construction of this Tunnel, the travel distance between Jammu and Srinagar region gor reduced by 16 kilometres and it has also reduced the travel time from 6 hrs to 5.5 hrs.
It is pertinent to mention here that it is Twin Tube Tunnel- one for each direction of Tunnel with twin tubes being inter-connected by a cross passage every 500 meters for better maintenance and emergency evacuations. This New Bani Hal Qazigund Road Tunnel is located in the Lower Himalaya on National Highway 44 and has helped over all to establish an all weather road connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir Regions. Hence this both Jammu and Kashmir Regions have been brought close to each other with the construction of such amazing and high tech new tunnel.
The newly constructed Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel has firstly reduced distance of 16 kilomoteres between Jammu and Srinagar and travel time from 6 hrs to 5 hrs and secondly has helped to maintain all weather road connectivity between two regions.Thirdly, this new tunnel assures to keep intact the continuous supply of essential commodities in Kashmir Valley that used to get disrupted often previously due to heavy snowfall and landslides.
This new tunnel has also not only solved the problem of road closures and other hardships but has also eased the heavy traffic burden and load on old historical Jawahar Tunnel. The people of Banihal and its adjoining areas also feel satisfied and over joyed with the construction of this alternate new tunnel because this has reduced their medical exigencies in emergency matters.
Lastly with the construction of this second new road tunnel, it has tremendously boosted the tourism sector which is the back bone of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Banihal History :
According to famous book Rajtarangini, Banihal was a famous town known as "Vishalta" during 11th century and this used to be a narrow mountain valley that was used as an escape route by revolting princess, rebels, chieftains and others from Kashmir Valley. Banihal is situated at an altitude of 2832 meters from sea level on Pir Panjal Mountain Range and connects Banihal with Qazigund on other side of the Mountain in Kashmir.
Banihal Tourist Places to Visit :
There are many unexplored beautiful tourist places which are being visited by large number of picnikers from different parts of union terority of Jammu and Kahsmir and outside often due to their amazing unseen adeventerous beauty with wonderful climatic conditions especially during hot summer season. Read more about Banihal tourist places,click here 👇👇
Banihal Hub Of Unexplored Beauty
Banihal Weather :
The weather in Banihal Town is temperature with pleasant summers and harsh winters because it is closely sorrounded by hills and snow capped mountains. The temperature in winter drops as low as to 10 degree centigrade and the average temperature during summer season ranges between 10 to 25 degree Celsius.
The terrain of Banihal area is hilly with ninety percent of its population residing in rural areas. The main occupation of people here is agriculture and main crops grown here are maiz, rice, pulses apple, walnuts, apricots, pear etc. The vegetables grown here in different areas are pumpkin, Turnip, cucumber, Chilli, onion, Spinach etc.
Conclude :
The kashmir Valley Valley has been also now connected with an all-weather rail link from Banihal to Baramulla that has fulfilled the long-pending dream of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Every year lacs of tourists/pilgrims from different parts of the country and abroad visit the valley and easily avail of air, rail, and surface routes to visit the amazing and extremely beautiful tourists places in Kashmir Valley not only during summer season but also during winters to witness snow fall and other winter adventure activities in shortest possible time to enjoy the scenic beauty & pilgrimage of this beautiful place. The recently constructed second new Banihal Qazigund Road tunnel has given a big flip to the trade and tourism sectors.
For more check out 👎
From :
Team Panaromicspots.
Read more blogs click here 👇
3 Comments
Valuable information keep it up
ReplyDeleteNice blog bro
ReplyDeleteSuperb
ReplyDelete