BRO Completes Renovation of Jawahar Tunnel in J&K

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has successfully renovated the 2.5 km-long twin-tube Jawahar Tunnel in Jammu & Kashmir, originally constructed in 1956. The upgraded tunnel, now equipped with state-of-the-art technology, will open to the public in December 2024.

Completed under the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model by BRO’s Project Beacon, the ₹62.5 crore project was funded by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and finished within a year.

The modernization included civil and electro-mechanical enhancements, installation of 76 high-definition CCTV cameras, smoke and fire sensors, SCADA systems, and a centralized monitoring room for real-time supervision, significantly improving safety, security, and user comfort.

The Jawahar tunnel has historically served as a vital passage through the Pir-Panjal range connecting Kashmir valley and Leh with the rest of the India. It acts as an alternate route to NH-44. Vehicles which are not allowed to cross the newly constructed Quazikund-Banihal tunnel such as oil tankers, explosive laden and gasoline vehicles, will use this tunnel.