The Naya Kashmir has replaced fire with flyovers, rifles with roads, and despair with development. It has turned blockades into bridges and turbulence into tunnels of progress.
Israar Shahid
For decades, the Srinagar National Highway was more of a lifeline riddled with uncertainty than a reliable route. Frequent landslides, harsh weather conditions, and infrastructural bottlenecks made travel a daunting task, disconnecting the Kashmir Valley from the rest of India for days, sometimes even weeks. However, with relentless efforts, strategic planning, and modern engineering marvels, the dream of a fully functional, all-weather highway has finally come true. This transformation is not just about better roads but about unlocking economic growth, ensuring seamless connectivity, and bringing relief to millions who depend on this critical route. In this article, I will emphasize the recent developments on NH44, the Srinagar-Jammu Highway.
I remember when I enrolled in one of the higher secondary schools in Jammu, my parents would always insist that I travel by air rather than by road whenever I went home or returned to school. It was probably in May 2019 when I had to travel from Jammu to Srinagar for my passport verification. That journey took me around 21 hours. For those who regularly traveled on this route, taking 10 hours to reach either Srinagar or Jammu was considered normal. During those days, my father used to say, “YE ROAD GACCI THEEK MAGAR ATH WUCHUN TUHUND SHURRI” (This road will be fixed when you have children of your own). This was the general perception about the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. Even recently, a television channel, Gulistan News TV, organized a conclave where they had a conversation with various political leaders. During the discussion, the incumbent MLA of Handwara, Mr. Sajad Gani Lone, admitted that the LG-led government had done tremendous work in J&K. Quoting him, he said, “Hamarewaqtmai tab boltethay is mai bahut time lagega jab maimantribhitha. Ye gareeb ka rasta hai, is raaste ko koi nahipoochtatha. Hum to sab by air aatethay.” (Back then, people used to say this would take a long time, even when I was a minister. This is the road for the poor; no one paid attention to it. We all used to travel by air.) A journey that once took a minimum of 10 hours now takes just 4 hours. In the next section of my article, I will highlight the engineering marvels that have transformed this route and made traveling on it a completely different experience.
NH44 is the only road that connects us to the rest of the country, apart from the Mughal Road, which remains shut for nearly six months a year. Ensuring its all-weather connectivity should have been a top priority for previous governments, but as I often say, it was the “road of the poor,” which is why it was long neglected. In April 2017, the Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee Tunnel, previously known as the Chenani-Nashri Tunnel, was inaugurated. This tunnel bypasses the snow and landslide-prone areas of Kud, Patnitop, and Batote, reducing the distance between Jammu and Srinagar by about 40 kilometers and saving over two hours of travel time. This was perhaps the only major achievement in all those years of state governance. However, after that, no significant improvements were made to the highway to ease travel for commuters. With the commencement of the LG-led administration, its landscape has entirely changed. The last time I travelled from Srinagar to Jammu, in January 2025, I was shocked to complete the journey in just four hours.
The Banihal-Qazigund tunnel, which was opened on August 4, 2021, is 8.5 km long and has significantly reduced the distance between Banihal and Qazigund by 16 km, offering a safer and more reliable route that is less prone to weather disruptions. Previously, when we travelled via Jawahar Tunnel and Lower Munda, it would take us nearly three hours to reach Banihal due to persistent traffic jams at Lower Munda and Banihal Market.While traveling, I was amazed to see the advanced engineering techniques applied to prevent landslides. Earlier, even a minor shooting stone incident could block the road for days. Now, retaining walls and rock bolting techniques have been employed to stabilize slopes. Retaining walls have been erected at the base of unstable slopes, while rock bolting—where steel rods are inserted into rock faces—secures loose rock formations. Additionally, I noticed tunnel-like protective structures with slightly slanted roofs built at vulnerable locations. These are designed to channel landslide debris into designated trenches without disrupting traffic movement.The introduction of surface and subsurface drainage systems has further reduced the risk of landslides. Surface channels and underground drains have been strategically implemented to manage water flow, thereby preventing soil erosion. One of the most fascinating aspects for me was the use of bio-engineering techniques. The LG administration has planted deep-rooted vegetation, such as willow trees native to Kashmir, to bind the soil and reduce erosion while also restoring the natural habitat.
The most notorious stretch of the highway used to be Panthal, which is no longer a major concern. In response to frequent landslides, small tunnels and protective structures have been constructed in this region, ensuring safer passage for vehicles by shielding them from falling debris and stabilizing the surrounding slopes. I remember when this tunnel was inaugurated, a friend of mine posted on his X handle: “PanthalPareshani Khatam!”—a testament to how perilous this stretch once was.Among all these developments, the most breathtaking moment for me was witnessing the near-completion of the four-lane project. Initially launched in 2011, this project faced numerous delays due to well-known reasons. The most critical stretch from Banihal to Ramban, covering about 42 km, was once a commuter’s nightmare—getting stuck there meant at least a five-hour delay. But now, it has transformed into a smooth and enjoyable ride. With the four-lane project expected to be completed by August this year, travel time will be cut in half, and the overall distance will be reduced by approximately 50 km.
What the state governments couldn’t achieve in decades for this road was accomplished single-handedly by the Hon’ble LG. While the Srinagar-Baramulla highway nears completion, the ring road project, flyovers, railway expansions, and other infrastructural initiatives are not only boosting development but also reshaping Kashmir’s aesthetic appeal. The Naya Kashmir has replaced fire with flyovers, rifles with roads, and despair with development. It has turned blockades into bridges and turbulence into tunnels of progress. Today, we are witnessing a transforming Kashmir—one that demands the support and cooperation of its people to reach new heights.
The Writer is a student activist and can be reached at [email protected]
