GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 3769
ANSWERED ON – 25/03/2026
SADHNA PASS (TANGDHAR – KARNAH) TUNNEL PROJECT
3769 SHRI CHOWDRY MOHAMMAD RAMZAN:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the status of the Sadhna Pass (Tangdhar–Karnah) tunnel project aimed at ensuring
uninterrupted road access to Tangdhar...
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 3769 ANSWERED ON – 25/03/2026 SADHNA PASS (TANGDHAR – KARNAH) TUNNEL PROJECT 3769 SHRI CHOWDRY MOHAMMAD RAMZAN:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the status of the Sadhna Pass (Tangdhar–Karnah) tunnel project aimed at ensuring uninterrupted road access to Tangdhar and Karnah regions of Kupwara district, where winter isolation severely affects healthcare, education, trade and security; and
(b) the timelines for completion under the Bharatmala Pariyojana or other infrastructure schemes to mitigate hardship faced by border communities? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (b) Government in Ministry of Road Transport & Highways is primarily responsible for development and maintenance of National Highways (NHs). Development and maintenance of NHs is a continuous process. Works on NHs are accordingly taken up based on the traffic density, condition of road and synergy with PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to keep the NHs in traffic worthy condition.
A number of schemes have been implemented by the Government for development of NHs in the country including NHs connecting border areas in the country. These are Bharatmala Pariyojana including subsumed National Highways Development Project (NHDP), Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North-East Region (SARDP-NE), Special Programme for development of Roads in Left Wing Extremism affected areas (LWE) and Externally Aided Projects (EAP). NHs stretches not covered under any of the above schemes are taken up for development under National Highway Original [NH(O)] works depending upon traffic density, condition of road, and synergy with PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
The work for preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed Sadhna Tunnel on the Kupwara–Karnah has been awarded and geotechnical/geophysical investigations and alignment selection stage have commenced.
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