Fifteen months after receiving central clearance, the proposed Rs 3,830-crore Peer Ki Gali tunnel on Jammu and Kashmir’s Mughal Road has made little headway, remaining stalled at the alignment clearance phase with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
Designed to run 8.51 kilometers, the tunnel is intended to provide year-round connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the Pir Panjal districts of Poonch and Rajouri, bypassing the snow-bound Peer Ki Gali pass during winter and offering a crucial backup to the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. However, despite previous official assurances that construction would begin in 2026, the initiative has not yet advanced to the Detailed Project Report (DPR) or tendering phases.
The current status emerged in the Legislative Assembly following a query from Congress legislator Irfan Hafiz Lone regarding the timeline and implementation measures.
According to the Public Works (R&B) Department:
Executing Agency: The project will be managed by the Border Roads Organisation’s (BRO) Project Beacon.
Alignment Timeline: Design consultant SMEC (India) Pvt Ltd submitted an alignment proposal discussed with MoRTH in late January 2026. Following an on-site evaluation by MoRTH’s Additional Director General (Tunnel) in mid-June, recommendations were made, and a compliance report was submitted on September 9.
Next Steps: Formal preparation of the DPR will only begin once MoRTH sanctions the route alignment.
Official timelines and contractor bidding will remain on hold until the DPR secures full approval alongside all mandatory statutory clearances.
