Singhpora-Vailoo tunnel annulled due to administrative reasons: Govt

Jammu, March 05: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday, in response to a question in the assembly, said that the Singhpora-Vailoo Tunnel sanctioned in 2022 was annulled due to administrative reasons despite bids being invited.
The response came to an unstarred question by Zafar Ali Khatana, MLA Kokernag, who asked the government to state the expected date for initiating work on the Singhpora-Kishtwar (Vailoo) Tunnel.
The concerned minister, in a written reply, said that the Singhpora-Vailoo Tunnel construction project was sanctioned by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) under the Bharatmala Pariyojana on July 18, 2022, and bids were also invited by NHIDCL. However, the project was annulled due to administrative reasons.
“MoRTH has conveyed to NHIDCL that the Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I has ceased to exist, and the projects sanctioned under it require fresh sanction under the NH(O) scheme of the Ministry,” the minister said.
He added that the matter for re-sanction of the project has been taken up with MoRTH by NHIDCL, and bids will be invited by NHIDCL after receiving fresh sanction from MoRTH.
If the re-sanction is approved at the earliest, it will be a dream come true for the people of both Kishtwar and Kokernag, providing seamless all-weather connectivity and bypassing the treacherous road. The Sinthan-Kishtwar route, which remains closed for most of the winter, will have this alternative tunnel, boosting tourism and strengthening links between the two regions.