Amid cracks, NHAI halts Mehar tunnel construction on Jmu-Sgr NH

Srinagar, Dec 18: The Work on excavating an 800-meter-long Mehar tunnel in Ramban district was halted by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) following cracks along the tunnel on Jammu -Srinagar highway, the officials said on Monday.
A senior NHAI official told Rising Kashmir that they have suspended work on the Mehar tunnel as it was under pressure for the past few days, leading to the development of cracks.
“Our engineers are currently assessing the situation, and as a precautionary measure, work has been temporarily suspended. All personnel and equipment have been evacuated from the tunnel,” he stated.
“Construction on the Mehar tunnel began around one-and-a-half years ago at two portals (P1 and P2) simultaneously. The objective was to create a route connecting the Mehar area with the Beacon-constructed bridge near Ramban, thereby bypassing the landslide-prone cafeteria morh area,” he said.
The work on the P2 tunnel on the Ramban side had already been halted in June following a collapse caused by an earthquake. However, work continued on the P1 side on the Jammu end. Recently, deformations within the tunnel on the P1 side led to the suspension of work after the appearance of cracks.
The official said engineers from outside the Union Territory (UT) have visited the site to assess the situation. “We are awaiting a decision from the NHAI regarding the next steps”, he said.
The Mehar tunnel is one of the three tunnels being constructed as part of the realignment project for the national highway between Ramban and Banihal. The purpose of the project is to circumvent landslide-prone areas along the highway and reduce the distance between Jammu and Srinagar.
The four-lane road widening project for the 270-km NH44, the vital all-weather road connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country, commenced in 2011. Despite missing several deadlines, the project is expected to be completed by next year.