NH-44 Upgrade: Nitin Gadkari Announces Completion of ₹680 Crore Ramsoo Viaduct and Digdole–Panthyal Tunnel in Jammu & Kashmir

RAMBAN, India — JULY 01, 2026 — Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari announced the successful completion of two major infrastructure projects on National Highway 44 (NH-44) in Jammu & Kashmir, built at a total cost of ₹680 crore. The completed works include an 810-metre-long viaduct on the northbound carriageway near Ramsoo in the Ramban district, alongside a 3.5-km AT-03 tunnel on the southbound carriageway that connects Digdole to Panthyal. These key engineering developments effectively bypass one of the most hazardous, landslide-prone stretches of the Ramban–Banihal section, providing a critical upgrade to the regional transport network.

Designed to ensure safer, faster, and all-weather connectivity to the Kashmir Valley, the projects will significantly reduce travel times and improve overall road safety. The newly completed infrastructure will facilitate the seamless, year-round movement of local commuters, tourists, defence vehicles, freight, and essential supplies. Scheduled to open to traffic on July 3, 2026, ahead of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026, these landmark highway upgrades will secure safer travel for arriving pilgrims while simultaneously boosting regional tourism, trade, economic growth, and the long-term resilience of Jammu & Kashmir’s national highway network.