Image credit: Nitin Gadkari, Official Facebook Page
Inaugurated on Sunday, April 3rd, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chenani-Nashri tunnel is India’s longest and Asia’s longest bi-directional highway tunnel. And, that is not the only high point of the tunnel. We have listed a few pointers for you to be surprised by:
- It runs a distance of 9.2 km and is a part of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
- It’s world’s sixth road tunnel with a transverse ventilation system.
- There are two tubes, which are linked to each other by 29 cross passages.
Image credit: Nitin Gadkari, Official Facebook Page
- The traffic tube has a diameter of 13m, while the escape tube has a diameter of 6m.
- Travel time between Jammu and Srinagar would be reduced by good two hours.
- A whopping Rs. 3,720 crore were spent in constructing the tunnel. It was built in a record time of 5 years, 6 months and is located at an altitude of nearly 4,000 feet.
Image credit: Nitin Gadkari, Official Facebook Page - In terms of fire safety measures, longitudinal exhaust fans have been installed that’ll push smoke upwards.
- Calls drops will be unheard of as telecommunication services companies such as BSNL, Airtel and Idea have set up shop inside the tunnel.
- SOS boxes, complete with first-aid kits and medicines have been installed.
- As many as 124 cameras have been installed. Apart from this, the tunnel features a linear heat detection system that will alert the Integrated Tunnel Control Room (ITCR) if needed.
Image credit: Official Facebook Page
Road trip, anyone?
