In a major relief to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and to tourists visiting Jammu and Kashmir, especially during the Amarnath Yatra, the 3.5-kilometre-long AT-03 south-bound tunnel in the Ramban district is now ready for traffic. It is a huge milestone achieved on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. This tunnel will connect Panthyal to Digdol; the tunnel is expected to open in the coming days.
This tunnel will provide a safe, fast, and all-weather route, allowing travellers to bypass hazardous stretches like ‘Khooni Nala’ and Panthyal ahead of the 2026 Amarnath Yatra.
Constructed by Sarla Project Works Private Limited at a cost of approximately ₹846 crore, the AT-03 tunnel is one of the most critical infrastructure projects on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. The project is expected to improve travel, enhance safety, reduce travel time, and ensure smoother traffic flow along one of India’s most vital road corridors.
For decades, the ‘Khooni Nala’ and Panthyal sections have been among the most dangerous parts of the highway. During the monsoon season, these areas frequently faced issues such as landslides, rockfalls, flash floods, and prolonged traffic jams.
The opening of the new tunnel will eliminate the need to traverse these hazardous stretches, offering travellers reliable, uninterrupted connectivity throughout the year. The tunnel is expected to play a pivotal role during the 2026 Amarnath Yatra, ensuring safe and convenient movement for thousands of pilgrims while significantly reducing highway congestion.
Local residents, transporters, and tourists have welcomed this development. They describe it as a ‘game-changing’ project that will improve road safety, boost tourism, facilitate trade, and strengthen year-round connectivity across the region.
The completion of the AT-03 South-bound tunnel marks another significant achievement in the modernization of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. This reflects the government’s sustained efforts to build robust infrastructure and improve connectivity in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Harish Kunja, Technical Manager at Sarla Limited, said, “The AT-3 South-bound tunnel is 3.5 kilometres long. The total cost of this project is ₹846 crore. We are now preparing to open it to traffic before the Amarnath Yatra. The main construction is complete, and while finishing and support work is still underway, the project is virtually ready for traffic movement.”
Naresh Singh, a local resident, said, “With the construction of this tunnel, we will no longer have to pass through ‘Khooni Nala’. Previously, the route ran along the outer road, which was prone to frequent accidents. Rockfalls still occur at Khooni Nala; the opening of this tunnel means we won’t have to traverse that hazardous stretch. Vehicles travelling between Jammu and Srinagar will no longer face the risk of falling rocks.”
