Border Roads Organisation (BRO)achieves milestone, breaks through 2.79-km Sungal tunnel along Jammu-Poonch highway

BRO achieves milestone, breaks through 2.79-km Sungal tunnel along Jammu-Poonch highway

Poonch, May 14 (KS) : The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on Tuesday said that the construction of the pivotal infrastructure project National Highway-144A, connecting Akhnoor with Poonch, reached a significant milestone as the breakthrough ceremony for the Sungal Tunnel took place.

An official told news agency Kashmir Scroll that the Akhnoor-Poonch road, known as the “Golden Arc Road”, is a strategically important 200 km stretch that connects South Kashmir and the Jammu region in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said this road connects the important border districts of Akhnoor, Rajouri, and Poonch, and has four major tunnels: Kandi Tunnel, Sungal Tunnel, Naushera Tunnel, and Bhimber Gali Tunnel.

He said that the breakthrough ceremony for the Sungal Tunnel, which spans an impressive 2,790 metres, marks a significant milestone in the construction of National Highway 144A, connecting Akhnoor and Poonch. This project is crucial for enhancing regional connectivity and facilitating smoother transportation along the National Highway.

During the breakthrough ceremony, Raghu Srinivasan, Director General Border Roads, reviewed the progress of the construction activity. He mentioned that the BRO is spearheading crucial road projects to connect remote areas with major centers in the Jammu-Poonch region, and the Jammu-Poonch link is advancing rapidly, with the project expected to be completed in the next few years.

Regarding the development of defence infrastructure along the Line of Control (LoC), the DGBR stated that it is a continuous process, and the BRO is committed to strengthening defence infrastructure by building and upgrading strategic roads along the International Border (IB), Line of Control (LoC), and Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Earlier, on January 28, 2024, the breakthrough of the Naushera Tunnel was achieved, indicating the BRO’s efforts to provide connectivity across the areas of Rajouri and Poonch. The progress of the National Highway project has gained momentum, and it is expected to be completed by 2026.(KS)