Serious Concerns Over Cancellation of Chatroo Singhpora-Vailoo Tunnel Project

Serious Concerns Over Cancellation of Chatroo Singhpora-Vailoo Tunnel Project  the Chatroo Singhpora-Vailoo Tunnel, a 4.5-5 kilometer project aimed at connecting the Chenab region of Jammu with Anantnag in Kashmir, has been met with strong apprehension among local residents and stakeholders. Initially approved in 2022 under the Bharatmala Pariyojana by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the project was reportedly cancelled in 2024 due to unspecified “administrative reasons,” despite the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) having invited bids. This cancellation has delayed a crucial infrastructure project that promised all-weather connectivity, reduced travel distance by approximately 65-80 kilometers, and served as an alternative route to the Srinagar-Jammu highway, bypassing the treacherous Sinthan Pass.
The tunnel was seen as a lifeline for the Chenab Valley, which faces inaccessibility during harsh winters, and a boost for tourism and socio-economic development. Local disappointment is palpable, with the population of Kishtwar district repeatedly expressing frustration over unfulfilled promises, noting the stalled progress despite surveys and approvals. The cancellation, reportedly linked to the closure of Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase I, has left the project in limbo, although a proposal for re-approval is reportedly under consideration.
This shelving reflects bureaucratic inertia and raises questions about the commitment of the Government of India to vital regional connectivity projects. Local figures and leaders, such as  have long advocated for the tunnel, emphasizing its role in reducing accidents, facilitating the Amarnath Yatra, and unlocking tourism potential. The lack of transparency surrounding the “administrative reasons” for the cancellation fuels skepticism about prioritizing the infrastructure needs of Jammu and Kashmir., who advocated for the construction of this tunnel during his tenure and managed to get the Government of India to consider this vital demand, with the then advisors to the Governor taking it forward with a successful survey, has stated that the news regarding the shelving of the Chatru-Vailoo Singhpora tunnel approval is painful, unfortunate, and unacceptable.