NEWS ANALYSIS | From the Desk of The Rajouri Times
Rajouri, July 29: The ongoing protest at the Sungal Tunnel has once again brought the long-delayed project into the spotlight. The demonstrations began only after the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) announced a tentative timeline for opening the tunnel. According to BRO officials, the tunnel cannot be opened immediately as several mandatory safety formalities, inspections, certifications, and technical clearances are still required before it is declared fit for public use.
The recent protests have raised an important question. If public concern over the tunnel was so strong, where was this collective voice during the nearly two-year delay in the construction of the project? During that prolonged period, there were hardly any sustained public demonstrations demanding timely completion or accountability.
Now that the tunnel is nearing completion, the focus should not merely be on fixing a date for its inauguration. Instead, the priority must be to ensure that every safety protocol is fully complied with. A tunnel carrying thousands of commuters every day cannot be opened in haste without all required structural, electrical, ventilation, fire safety, communication, emergency response, and evacuation systems being thoroughly tested and certified.
BRO has reportedly maintained that these formalities are essential and cannot be bypassed merely to meet public expectations or deadlines. The organisation has stressed that safety remains its foremost priority before traffic is allowed through the tunnel.
The people of Rajouri and Poonch have every right to demand the early commissioning of this strategically important tunnel, which is expected to improve connectivity and reduce travel time. However, the same public must also insist that the tunnel is opened only after receiving all mandatory safety approvals.
History has shown that rushing the opening of major infrastructure without complete safety compliance can have serious consequences. Therefore, public pressure should be directed towards ensuring transparency regarding safety audits, inspections, and certifications rather than merely demanding an early inauguration.
The Sungal Tunnel will serve generations to come. Waiting a little longer for complete safety is far better than risking lives by opening it prematurely. A safe tunnel is in the interest of every commuter, and that should remain the foremost priority.
Author: therajouritimes
Lakkar Mandi Janipur Jammu
