{"id":158945,"date":"2025-08-01T16:52:38","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T11:22:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/?p=158945"},"modified":"2025-08-01T17:05:46","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T11:35:46","slug":"longest-tunnels-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/india\/longest-tunnels-in-india","title":{"rendered":"Longest Tunnels in India"},"content":{"rendered":"

India<\/a> is blessed with a rich tradition of Tunnel\u2002construction, as India started constructing tunnels in ancient age. India boasts a variety of tunnel infrastructure, such as roads, railways,\u2002water, irrigation, and defence. Jammu\u2002and Kashmir<\/a>‘s Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel is the longest in the nation, measuring 11.215 kilometres.<\/p>\n

Connecting the road from Sonmarg\u2002to Srinagar, an arm of the National Highway passing through this Z-Morh tunnel will be open in all weather for smooth travel which was virtually impossible in winter till now, whenever snow used to be on the ground, with the Northern way passing through it.<\/p>\n

But did you know there are numerous lengths of tunnels that rank into the list\u2002of some of the longest tunnels in India and also the most strategically important tunnels in the country? the tallest Atal Tunnel\u2002(Himachal Pradesh<\/a>) powered the world’s longest highway tunnel located height of above 10,000 feet.<\/p>\n

Than the aforementioned tunnel, there are many more long tunnels in India including the Chenani-Nashri Tunnel which features in the list of longest\u2002tunnels in India.<\/p>\n

This article dives into the 10 longest tunnels in India and how they act as milestones in increasing connectivity\u2002and movement of goods or services across the different areas of the country.<\/p>\n

The Longest\u2002Tunnels in India: A List<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Read on for the list of longest tunnels in\u2002India, extraordinary engineering marvels that not only traverse diverse destinations but also ensure smooth transportation over diffic\u00adult terrains.<\/p>\n

Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The longest railway\u2002tunnel in India, the Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel (or Banihal-Qazigund Railway Tunnel) is approximately 11.21 kilometres long. The tunnel is a single 8.4 m\u2002diameter tube. It\u2002is also called T-80, and it is the longest transport tunnel in India.<\/p>\n

It was constructed from November 2005 to\u2002June 2013. This tunnel is a great engineering marvel situated in the tough territory of the Pir Panjal range in the\u2002state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is an important bridge of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla\u2002rail link project, that helps to improve accessibility to the Kashmir Valley. This railway tunnel is meant for\u2002broad gauge railways and will run 440 meters below the existing Jawahar Tunnel which often becomes non-functional in winter due to heavy snowfall.<\/p>\n

The Pir Panjal Tunnel\u2002is an all-weather route for trains and will reduce travel time and improve access to the region. It was built using\u2002cutting-edge methods including the New Austrian Tunnel Method (NATM) to make it safer and able to withstand geological challenges. Travel time between Banihal in Jammu and Qazigund in Kashmir has also been reduced by 50 minutes and\u2002around Rs 10 lakh per day in fuel consumption has been saved.<\/p>\n

Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Jammu and Kashmir’s Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel, or the Chenani-Nashri Tunnel, is\u2002the fifth longest road tunnel in India. The 9.2-km tunnel was opened to\u2002traffic in April 2017.<\/p>\n

Jammu and Kashmir’s Zojila pass also faces severe weather, where this road tunnel helps connect Jammu and Srinagar during winters (until snow\u2002blocks the existing routes) is the longest road tunnel in India. Built as part of the\u2002Chenani-Nashri Road Project, this tunnel drastically cuts down travel time between the two cities, as it avoids the risky mountainous terrain.<\/p>\n

Safety Systems: Equipped with state-of-the-art systems for fire detection, ventilation, and\u2002emergency exits to protect travellers.<\/p>\n

Trivandrum Port Tunnel<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2002is India’s longest tunnel and the longest tunnel in the world, made from rock with the specific purpose of serving as a divider for vehicular traffic in the most dense urban area of the area of Trivandrum.<\/a><\/p>\n

The road tunnel, which\u2002is about 9 km long, opened in 2022. It is a\u2002vital artery for commercial traffic moving to and from the port. The aim of this project was to eliminate a lot of traffic on the current highways and to\u2002have an efficient road for heavy vehicles. The advanced engineering practices adopted in the design of the Trivandrum Port Tunnel will ensure its\u2002longevity and safety for the users.<\/p>\n

This makes it an\u2002indispensable asset in the economic development of Kerala, with its advanced lighting systems, ventilation mechanisms, and emergency response features.<\/p>\n

Atal Tunnel<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Located in\u2002Himachal Pradesh, the Atal Tunnel is an engineering marvel that measures around 9 km. Officially opened in October 2020, this road tunnel links Manali with the\u2002Lahaul-Spiti Valley and forms a key part of enabling all-weather access to this remote area. It is among the highest tunnels in the world, named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari\u2002Vajpayee.<\/p>\n

Built 3,000 metres above sea level, the Atal Tunnel improves connectivity and reduces travel time between Manali and Lahaul-Spiti in the\u2002winter months. First, this tunnel has the\u2002latest safety measures including fire detection systems, emergency exits, and robust ventilation systems.<\/p>\n

Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel in the Union Territory of\u2002Jammu and Kashmir is around 8.5 kilometres in length and was made open for public use in 2021.<\/p>\n

The road tunnel is a vital connectivity for Banihal-Qazigund and the region’s\u2002rugged area. This tunnel has been constructed\u2002to provide all-weather connectivity to vehicular traffic ensuring minimal disruptions during heavy snowfall in winter months. Advances in engineering have been combined in this state-of-the-art tunnel for Banihal\u2002Qazigund Road including efficient drainage and safety features.<\/p>\n

Sangaldan Railway Tunnel<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Built-in 2017, the 7.1-kilometre Sangaldan Railway Tunnel, the longest of its kind in India, is located\u2002in the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project in Jammu and Kashmir.<\/p>\n

This railway tunnel is a\u2002key component for improving train connectivity in the difficult mountain terrain. The Sangaldan Railway Tunnel, built with the deep subaltern features of the rugged Himalayan terrain in mind, enables remote places to run access and a safe Transit for trains\u2002throughout the year.<\/p>\n

Rapuru Tunnel<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Rapuru Tunnel (Approx.\u20026.64 Kms) in Andhra Pradesh<\/a>. This tunnel makes it possible to provide train services in such a challenging terrain\u2002as the mountains are crossed directly, making it easier and more convenient for the people of the region.<\/p>\n

With modern engineering practices in mind, Rapuru Tunnel is equipped\u2002with vital precautions for passenger safety while in transit, ventilation systems and emergency exits.<\/p>\n

Karbude Tunnel<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Karbude Tunnel, Maharashtra<\/a>; the 6.5-km Karbude Tunnel\u2002was completed in 1997.
\nThe rail overpass is critical to train operations\u2002through Maharashtra’s mountainous terrain.<\/p>\n

The Karbude Tunnel improves connectivity using advanced engineering techniques appropriate for the area’s terrain while also\u2002providing safe transport for people and goods.<\/p>\n

Natuwadi Tunnel<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Natuwadi Tunnel, similarly placed in Maharashtra, is\u2002about 4.8 kilometres long and came to completion in 1963. This railway tunnel is the most important link\u2002in the Maharashtra railway network.<\/p>\n

The Natuwadi Tunnel, designed to cut across hilly landscapes, has greatly contributed to train service in the area\u2002since its launch. Its structure was built using the modern\u2002methods of its times enabling trains to traverse through difficult landscapes safely.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

India is blessed with a rich tradition of Tunnel\u2002construction, as India started constructing tunnels in ancient age. India boasts a variety of tunnel infrastructure, such as roads, railways,\u2002water, irrigation, and defence. Jammu\u2002and Kashmir‘s Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel is the longest in the nation, measuring 11.215 kilometres. Connecting the road from Sonmarg\u2002to Srinagar, an arm of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21868,"featured_media":161269,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12424,12575,12248,12266,11315],"tags":[12960,12954,12855,12951,12949,12957,12948,12961,12959,12956,12953,12952,12958,12955,12950],"class_list":{"0":"post-158945","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-architecture","8":"category-eco-tourism","9":"category-engineering","10":"category-facts","11":"category-india","12":"tag-constructionprojects","13":"tag-engineeringmarvels","14":"tag-incredibleindia","15":"tag-indiadevelopment","16":"tag-indianinfrastructure","17":"tag-indianroads","18":"tag-longesttunnelsinindia","19":"tag-mapsofindia","20":"tag-modernindia","21":"tag-mountaintunnels","22":"tag-railwaytunnels","23":"tag-roadtunnels","24":"tag-smartconnectivity","25":"tag-transportinfrastructure","26":"tag-tunnelengineering"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158945","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21868"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=158945"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158945\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":161271,"href":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158945\/revisions\/161271"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/161269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=158945"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=158945"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=158945"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}