Jammu - Poonch National Highway Upgradation Project

Complete details of Jammu-Akhnoor-Poonch National Highway upgradation, widening and strengthening of two-lane with paved shoulder

Poonch, located 242 Km from Jammu, the winter capital of J&K, is a far-flung district of Jammu and Kashmir surrounded by Kashmir Valley (Baramulla, Budgam, Shopian and Kulgam Districts) in the north-east, district Rajouri in the south, and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) in the west. Not only does it possess strategic importance from a defense perspective, due to its proximity to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), but also acts as an important crossing point between India and Pakistan facilitating Cross LOC Trade and Bus Service via Chakan-da-Bagh.

Poonch District of Jammu and Kashmir

    Road transport is the only mode of transport for travelling in the Pir-Panjal region. A 242 km double lane road between Jammu & Poonch passing through Rajouri District of Pir Panjal region serves as a lifeline for this region. This road was given the status of National Highway in November 2015 and was named as NH 144A. A 80 Km historical Mughal Road also connects the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch to Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K.  

    

    Jammu-Poonch National Highway, NH 144A is currently a 2 lane highway constructed and maintained by Border Road Organisation under Project Sampark. Increase in traffic rushing between the three districts and hilly terrain has made commuters very difficult to travel on this road resulting in frequent road accidents on this highway. The Jammu-Akhnoor stretch has become more problematic due to the voluminous increase in the number of vehicles.

Existing route map of NH 144A

    It was a long pending demand of locals for upgradation of this highway to 4 lane specifications. Road Transport and Highways Minister of India, Nitin Gadkari had approved revamp and upgradation of this highway  under Project Sampark. Under this upgradation project, a four lane highway from Jammu to Akhnoor and upgradation, widening and strengthening of two-lane with paved shoulder from Akhnoor to Poonch has been approved. Construction of four single-tube tunnels  on this highway is also approved under this project. The estimated cost of this project is Rs 5100 crores.

    

    Apart from serving locals in the districts of Rajouri and Poonch by cutting travel time from 6-7 hours to 4-5 hours, this project will reduce the total distance by about 40kms. The widening of the NH 144A will lead to speedy movement of defence vehicles as both the districts, Poonch and Rajouri, share Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan. This road has strategic importance in defence movements at the times of war or conflict.

    The National Highway-144-A  would have four single-tube tunnels involving an investment of ₹510 crore for straightening of sharp curves and will reduce the overall journey by more than one hour.  The prime motive of constructing four tunnels is to decongest the vehicular traffic along the highway and it would provide better regional connectivity and save travelling distance and time as well. Tunnels would provide better and more comfortable travelling experiences as they would reduce sudden rise and fall of steep gradient and tight curves on entire Akhnoor to Poonch stretch. Widening of this highway in the rough terrain of Pir Panjal region prone to landslides is the most challenging task for BRO.

Jammu-Akhnoor Highway:    

National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has been entrusted the task of executing the project on the Jammu-Akhnoor section. Work on Jammu-Akhnoor road is already going with fast pace. The Jammu-Akhnoor highway which is 30 kms long stretch is being widened at a cost of 272.77 crores. This stretch also has a four-lane flyover of 5.2 kms starting from Canal Head to Ganesh Vihar. 

Akhnoor-Nowshera-Rajouri-Poonch Highway:

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has taken up the task of upgradation, widening and strengthening of two-lane with paved shoulder on the Akhnoor-Nowshera-Rajouri-Poonch section.

The alignment of project stretch from Akhnoor to Poonch starts at km 30.00 of NH 144A at Akhnoor

Bypass end point and ends at km 236.78 of NH 144A in Poonch.

Work on this stretch is divide into eight packages:

There will be a total of 4 tunnels on this stretch will reduce the overall distance by about 35 kms.

PKG-1: 

From existing km 30.050 to km 49.150 [design km 30.000 to km 46.450].

The existing length of PKG-1 road is 19.10 km and design length of project is 16.45 km, thus reducing a distance of 2.7 km.

It will start from Akhnoor and end at Chowki Choura passing through Tanda. 

A tunnel of 260 mtrs will also be constructed at Kandi village in this stretch.

PKG-2: 

From existing km 49.150 to km 64.535 [design km 46.450 to km 55.800].

The existing length of PKG-2 road is 15.385 km and design length of project is 9.350 km, thus reducing a distance of 6.035 km.

It will start from Chowki Choura and end near Bhamla passing through Sungal. 

A tunnel of 2.78 km will be constructed at Sungal village which will also bypass Kalidhar village.

PKG-3:  

From existing km 64.535 to km 85.385 [design km 55.800 to km 74.350].

The existing length of PKG-3 road is 20.850 km and design length of project is 18.550 km, thus reducing a distance of 2.3 km.

It will start from Bhamla and end at Bakhar. A bypass of 4 km will also be constructed bypassing Sunderbani town.

PKG-4: 

From existing km 85.385 to km 102.000 [design km 74.350 to km 90.150].

The existing length of PKG-4 road is 16.615 km and design length of project is 15.800 km, thus reducing a distance of 0.815 km.

It will start from Bakhar and end near Nowshera passing through Thandapani, Siot, Lamberi.

PKG-5: 

From existing km 102.000 to km 134.950 [design km 90.150 to km 116.980].

The existing length of PKG-5 road is 32.950 km and design length of project is 26.830 km, thus reducing a distance of 6.12 km.

It will start from Nowshera and end at Kallar passing through Narian, Chingus. A new bridge will be constructed leading to a tunnel of 0.700 km bypassing existing Tain Bridge.

PKG-6: 

From existing km 134.950 to km 166.100 [design km 116.980 to km 146.700].

The existing length of PKG-6 road is 31.150 km and design length of project is 29.720 km, thus reducing a distance of 1.43 km.

It will start from Kallar and end at Dhari Dhara near Manjakote passing through Muradpur, Rajouri, Thandi Kassi, Gambhir, Rajdhani, Patrara. A bypass of 2.7 km will also be constructed bypassing Manjakote town.

PKG-7:

From existing km 166.100 to km 192.980 [design km 146.700 to km 162.800].

The existing length of PKG-7 road is 26.880 km and design length of project is 16.100 km, thus reducing a distance of 10.78 km.

It will start from Dhari Dhara and end at Bhatadhurian passing through Galhoti, Gambhir Mughlan, Sangiot. Instead of upgrading existing road from Dhari Dhara to Bhatadurian via Bhimber Gali (BG), a new road of length 15 km and a tunnel of 1.1 km at Bhatadhurian will be constructed.

PKG-8: 

From existing km 192.980 to km 229.820 [design km 162.800 to km 198.180].

The existing length of PKG-8 road is 36.840 km and design length of project is 35.380 km, thus reducing a distance of 1.46 km.

It will start from Bhatadurian and end at Police Lines Poonch passing through Jaran Wali Gali, Potha, Sanai, Lassana, Kalai, Chandak, Dingla, Nangali. Instead of upgrading old road from Kalai to Poonch via Bhainch, a new road of length 7.6 km will be constructed from Kalai to Poonch via Nangali. 

For better understanding, view this map in full screen view and use 'Zoom in and out' feature.
See keys below.

Map Keys:

Route drawn in Blue colour indicates the existing highway which is being upgraded.

Route drawn with Red colour indicates new road to be constructed.

Route drawn with Yellow colour indicates new Bridges to be constructed.

Route drawn with Green colour indicates new Tunnels to be constructed.

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