On 26.06.2013 the 11 km Pir Panchal railway tunnel opened as the longest tunnel in India.

Ircon International Ltd has been the principal executing agency for Northern Railway on the Dharam-Qazigund Section of the USBRL project, which includes Banihal-Qazigund section and Pir Panjal tunnel. With this section the traveling distance between Banihal in Jammu and Qazigund in Kashmir has been reduced to 17.7 km by rail instead of 35 km by road.

The tunnel, constructed using NATM techniques, has been equipped with CCTV cameras at 62.5 m intervals, linear fire detection system, fire fighting system with fire hydrants at every 125 m, emergency telephone with communication to control room at every 250 m, fire extinguishers and fire alarm at every 250 m, air quality monitoring system at every 500 m, escape route signs every 50 m, emergency lighting and normal lighting and public address system. A  3.0 m-wide road has been installed along the track for rescue and maintenance purposes along with a 772.0 m-long escape tunnel. The ventilation system comprises 25 fans along the tunnel, installed in the roof in groups of five. Click here and in/36 for tunnelbuilder archive. Visit www.ircon.org  and www.hccindia.com. 27/13.