Srinagar, Oct. 4 -- People in Kathua and Doda have raised concerns over the inordinate delay in commencing work on the much-anticipated 6.8-km Chattergala tunnel, which is expected to provide the two districts with an all-weather connectivity route.

In June 2024, Union minister Jitender Singh had said the tunnel, estimated to cost around Rs.4,000 crore, would be executed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), after the Border Roads Organisation (Beacon) was unable to take up the project due to lack of funds, despite its initiation six years earlier.

The NHAI was asked to undertake construction of the new national highway from Lakhanpur to Basohli-Bani in Kathua to Bhaderwah-Doda, and the Chattergala tunnel would be executed...