Ramban–Banihal NH-44 Four-Laning
A Highway Forged by Hands, Hearts, and Himalayan Grit
By: Er Navaid Runyal
The road between Ramban and Banihal has always been more than asphalt and rock. For years, it was a route wrapped in fear. Families crossing it held their breath. Truckers whispered prayers at Panthiyal. Tourists returned with tales of near-misses. It was not a highway—it was a hurdle.
But today, this stretch of National Highway-44, the lifeline between Jammu and Srinagar, is undergoing a transformation that promises not just safer travel, but renewed dignity and opportunity for thousands. And I say this not as a distant observer, but as someone who was deeply involved in its making—as a Geotechnical Engineer working on the ground in some of its most challenging zones.
This is not just a story of tunnels, flyovers, and bridges. This is a story of blood, sweat, stone, and survival.
Marog–Digdol (Package 1): The Tunnel we’re still fighting for
In Package 1, the twin-tube tunnel between Marog and Digdol is still under construction. Tunneling in this region demands constant monitoring, risk assessment, and real-time decisions. Even small mistakes can lead to big consequences.
As an engineer, I’ve seen colleagues and workers risking their lives—going into unstable zones, working in extreme temperatures, often without mobile signals, under the shadow of falling rocks. And yet, they show up every day. With helmets on and hope in their eyes.
This tunnel isn’t just under construction. It’s under hope—and although it will take time, we will finish it with the same determination that brought us this far.
Digdol–Panthiyal and Digdol–Khooni Nallah (Package 2): Almost There
In Package 2, two of the most significant and awaited twin-tube tunnels—Digdol to Panthiyal and Digdol to Khooni Nallah—are nearing completion. These stretches were once synonymous with fear. Panthiyal, especially, was infamous for shooting stones, frequent accidents, and tragic fatalities.I have personally worked on this section, and I can confidently say: this is one of the most difficult geotechnical zones.
Here, we’ve faced everything collapsing slopes, fractured rock mass, groundwater ingress, unpredictable overburden, and extremely narrow working hours due to weather and safety.
I have walked these cliffs before the tunneling began. I’ve seen the scars on the mountains—and on the faces of the drivers who had no option but to cross.
Today, both tunnels are structurally complete, with final linings, utilities, ventilation systems, and road surfacing being finished. Trial runs and final inspections are ongoing. The good news is not far. Very soon, these tunnels will open, and with them, open a new era for the region.
These tunnels bypass the most hazardous segments, significantly reducing travel time, accidents, and stress for everyone from military convoys to local farmers.
Ramsoo–Nachlana (Package 3): Still under the Hammer
In Package 3 (Ramsoo–Nachlana), the work is also in progress. This section mainly involves the construction of flyovers and bridges, with no tunnels. The site is still under construction and will take some more time to complete, but the work is moving steadily with consistent progress on the ground.
Let no one underestimate the danger faced by those working here—labourers hanging off cliffs, operators handling machines near vertical drops, and engineers inspecting unstable slopes under tension.
This is not just construction. This is conquest over nature’s wildest terrain.
Relief Already Felt: A Safer Road is Taking Shape
While key sections are still under work, many parts of the corridor have already been transformed:
Panthiyal T5 Tunnel
Once a nightmare, now a secure, smooth passage. We all remember the times when vehicles waited for hours, halted by landslides. The T5 tunnel has ended that chapter.
Cafeteria Morh Canopy Tunnel
A smart intervention—a protective canopy now shields one of the most vulnerable bends. No more stones crashing down onto vehicles.
Banihal Bypass
Now fully functional, this bypass has decongested Banihal town, allowing heavy traffic to move freely and reducing local pollution and noise.
Together, these features have already eased travel, reduced delays, and brought visible improvement in safety and quality of life.
Behind the Machines: People Who Made This Happen
This project is not just about concrete and steel it’s about people. As a geotechnical engineer, I’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with:
- Excavator operators working blindfolded in smoke-filled tunnels
- Blasting crews risking injury while cracking solid Himalayan rock
- Surveyors and quality teams collecting data at sub-zero temperatures
- Labourers who didn’t miss a day even when their tents were buried in snow
- And yes, the truck drivers and locals whose patience, cooperation, and support kept us going.
These are the unsung heroes. And this article is my tribute to each and every one of them.
Emotional Realities: Locals and Drivers Speak
Muntazir Ul Islam, a truck driver who’s been doing Jammu–Srinagar for 20 years, told me:v“Pehle road pe nikalna dua ke saath hota tha. Aaj thoda sukoon hai. Tunnel dekh ke lagta hai zindagi bachi hai.”
(“Earlier, I would pray before starting the drive. Now, I feel a little peace. These tunnels feel like life has been saved.”)
During my time on the project, I also interacted with the Himalayan QRT Ramsoo team, a dedicated local NGO always present on NH-44. Whether it’s an accident, landslide, or traffic jam, their volunteers are the first to respond, offering emergency aid, guidance, and heartfelt service to travelers and locals alike.
This highway has not just connected places—it has reconnected people with dignity.
The Road Ahead: Full Completion, Full Transformation
Once all packages are complete—including the twin tunnels, flyovers, retaining walls, slope protections, and canopy structures—the Ramban–Banihal stretch will be:
- Four-laned with modern safety standards
- Operational in all seasons
- Resilient to landslides and weather
- A true national corridor worthy of Jammu & Kashmir’s potential
It will be a road that brings goods, tourists, patients, students, and dreams safely and swiftly.
Final Thoughts: From Earth to Eternity
This is a highway written not just on land but on the hearts of those who built it. As someone who worked deep inside its tunnels, I can say with pride: We didn’t just drill through rock we drilled through fear.
We didn’t just lay concrete—we laid foundations of a better tomorrow.
This road is not just a project. It is a promise kept—to the people, to the region, and to our own sense of purpose.
Let this stretch of NH-44 between Ramban and Banihal stand as a monument to human resilience, where engineers, labourers, and drivers together tamed one of India’s toughest terrains.
And may every traveler who passes through these tunnels feel the echo of the effort, the silence of the sacrifice, and the pride of progress.
(The author is a geotechnical engineer from Marnal Maligam( Pogal Paristan) Ramban)
