Syllabus: GS-III, Subject: Economy, Topic: Infrastructure, Issue: infrastructure project in Jammu and Kashmir
Context: Prime Minister inaugurated the Banihal-Sangaldan section.
Benefits:
- Alternative travel option to the Valley when roads are not usable.
- Opens far-off areas of Jammu division for tourists.
- Reduces travel time between Srinagar and Jammu to 3-3.5 hours (currently 5-6 hours by road).
- Facilitates hassle-free transport of goods like apples, dry fruits, pashmina shawls, and handicrafts to other parts of the country.
- Expected significant reduction in the cost of transporting daily use items to the Valley from other parts of the country.
 Challenges;
- The Himalayas are young, geologically unstable nature.
- Construction projects faced difficulties due to heavy snowfall, difficult terrain, and seismic activity in Zones IV and V.
Innovation:
- Railways engineers developed the Himalayan Tunneling Method (HTM), using horseshoe-shaped tunnels instead of D-shaped ones,
- HTM involves constructing tunnels in a curved shape, providing structural strength in loose soil conditions, particularly in areas with steep inclines exceeding 70 degrees.
- This enhances the stability and durability of infrastructure in the region, ensuring safer transportation and connectivity.
