A significant development has emerged for the people of Karnah, a border region in Jammu and Kashmir. Following the approval of the Sadhna Tunnel project, concrete steps are now being taken to initiate its construction. Recently, a team of senior engineers including the Chief Engineer of MORTH (New Delhi), the Chief Engineer of BRO, and engineers from RITES who prepared the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Sadhna Tunnel conducted an in-depth survey of the proposed alignment from TP to Upper Nachiyan.
During this visit, a straight and feasible alignment was selected, and flags were placed to mark the identified path. On this occasion, Muhammad Asif Mir, General Secretary of the Sadhna Tunnel Coordination Committee Karnah, held detailed discussions with all the senior engineers and officials. He expressed hope, saying, “InshaAllah, the formal construction of the tunnel will begin very soon.”
A Long Tale of Public Struggle
This project is the result of a long-standing public movement. The demand for the Sadhna Tunnel has been ongoing for several decades. However, in 2018, after a tragic avalanche at Sadhna Top claimed 11 lives, the demand intensified. Public protests and demonstrations erupted across the region, leading to the formation of the Karnah Tunnel Coordination Committee to organize and strengthen the movement.
Political and Social Involvement
Throughout different periods, public representatives played an active role in this movement. During the PDP government, the then MLA of Karnah, Advocate Raja Manzoor, met with the Minister of Transport, Nitin Gadkari, and the Defense Minister in Delhi. Later, during Governor’s Rule, Panchayat representatives also traveled to Delhi to urge the central government to approve the tunnel.
MP Engineer Rashid raised the issue several times in the assembly and staged protests. Alongside him, the then MLC Javed Mirchal and Advocate Raja Manzoor were also at the forefront of the movement. Later, large-scale protests were held at Press Colony in Srinagar.
Social Media, Letters, and Public Pressure
In addition to political representatives, local intellectuals and youth worked behind the scenes to reach the central government. Several scholars sent detailed letters and proposals highlighting the importance of the Sadhna Tunnel, increasing pressure in favor of the project. However, the most significant role was played by the public itself. The community formed the Tunnel Coordination Committee, which included respected figures from the area, to press for the tunnel’s construction.
Central Government Response and Budget Approval
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, in a public rally, declared that the Sadhna Tunnel was among his top priorities. He instructed BEACON authorities to prepare the DPR within ten months. Subsequently, an interim budget of ₹11 crore was approved for soil testing and machinery mobilization as part of preliminary work.
The project was also prominently featured in the BJP’s election campaign. Candidate Idrees Karnahi demanded tunnel approval before the Prime Minister, while national spokesperson Tarun Chugh, during his visit to Karnah, assured its construction.
Hope Turning into Reality
Now that the alignment for the tunnel has been finalized and experts have inspected the site, it is expected that construction will begin soon. The tunnel will connect the region to the rest of the valley year round and will help prevent the loss of lives during snowy weather.
