Parliament Question: Sadhna Tunnel and all-weather connectivity to Karnah

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 2994 ANSWERED ON – 18/03/2026 SADHNA TUNNEL AND ALL-WEATHER CONNECTIVITY TO KARNAH 2994 SHRI CHOWDRY MOHAMMAD RAMZAN:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) the present status of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed Sadhna Tunnel on the Kupwara–Karnah road and the reasons for delay in its finalization;

(b) the number of fatalities on Sadhna Pass due to avalanches and accidents during the last three years;

(c) whether funds have been earmarked under PM DevINE or any other Central scheme for 2026–27; and

(d) the timeline for laying the foundation stone to ensure all-weather connectivity to Karnah? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

(a) to (d) Government in Ministry of Road Transport & Highways undertakes feasibility Study/ process for preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for improvement/widening/construction of NHs in the country including in the Union Territory

(UT) of Jammu and Kashmir. Decision for project implementation and investment is taken based on the outcome of DPR, requirement of connectivity, traffic density 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.

Based on Electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) data on NH-701, the number of accidents and casualties in the Sadhna pass including its approaches during last three years (2023, 2024 & 2025) are as under;

Accidents Fatalities (No. of Grievous Injury (No. of Minor Injury (No. of (No.) persons) persons) persons) 11 4 17 14No separate detail on accidents and fatalities for incidents such as avalanches are available Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM- DevINE) is a fully funded Central Sector Scheme for North East Region States and not for the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.

Funds are allocated for development and maintenance of NHs State/ Union Territory- wise/agency wise and not project wise. The details of funds allocated and expenditure incurred towards development and maintenance of NHs in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir

during each of the last three years and the current year are as follows:

Amount in Rs Crore Year Allocation Expenditure 2022-23 7370 7370 2023-24 10528 10528 2024-25 10331 10204 2025-26 (Till Jan 2026) 6436 6203 *****