Sadhna Pass tunnel project crucial for border areas: Choudhary Ramzan

New Delhi, Apr 2: National Conference MP Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan on Thursday raised the issue of the strategically vital Sadhna Pass (Tangdhar–Karnah) tunnel project in the Lok Sabha, urging the Centre to expedite work on the ambitious infrastructure initiative aimed at ending the decades-long isolation of remote border areas in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
Raising the matter during Zero Hour, the parliamentarian sought a detailed response from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on the current status of the proposed tunnel, which promises to provide uninterrupted all-weather connectivity to the Tangdhar and Karnah regions.
He highlighted that these border pockets, located close to the Line of Control (LoC), face severe disconnection from the rest of the country during harsh winter months due to heavy snowfall, adversely impacting essential services like healthcare, education, trade, and security logistics.
“The local population, particularly in these strategically important regions, is forced to endure immense hardships every winter. The construction of the Sadhna Pass tunnel is not merely a matter of convenience but a critical necessity for improving connectivity, boosting economic activities, and strengthening the overall development and security framework,” Ramzan said in the House.
The MP pressed the government for a clear timeline for the completion of the project, asking whether it is being executed under the Bharatmala Pariyojana or any other central infrastructure initiative. He emphasised that timely execution of the tunnel project remains key to mitigating the sufferings of the border populace and integrating these forward areas into the mainstream economy. (KNS)