Udhampur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that  40 years of bloodshed in Jammu and Kashmir has not benefitted anyone. He exhorted the youth in Kashmir valley to choose tourism over terrorism for ensuring the state’s development and well-being.

Addressing a public meeting after dedicating India’s longest road tunnel that links Kashmir Valley with Jammu, Mr. Modi reminded the stone-pelters of the valley that stones can be used for better purposes — building infrastructure. He said that Kashmir Valley would have  been on the top of the world tourism list had terrorism not spread. 

Mr. Modi also hit out at Pakistan eyeing Kashmir, saying, they can’t even take care of themselves. He said that his government is committed to ensure fast-paced development of Jammu and Kashmir, which would show the people living under occupation in the other parts of the state how they are being destroyed.

The Chenani-Nashri Tunnel is an all-weather route that reduces the distance between Jammu and Kashmir Valley  by 31 kilometers. Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti were also present on the occasion. 

The 9-km long Chenani-Nashri Tunnel was built at the cost of Rs. 2,500 crore rupees. It bypasses the snow-bound upper reaches of Patnitop and reduces the journey time by two hours. 

The tunnel is equipped with world-class security systems and smart features like Integrated Traffic Control System; Surveillance, Ventilation and Broadcast Systems; Fire Fighting System; and SOS call-boxes at every 150 metres. There is also a parallel escape tunnel, with ‘Cross Passages’ connecting to the main tunnel at intervals of 300 metres.