Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated India's longest road tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, making it operational for traffic. Speaking ahead of the inauguration, Jitendra Singh, who is the Union Minister of State in the PM's Office said, "It is a matter of great pride for the people of Jammu and Kashmir that this great tunnel is being dedicated to the nation by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi - the most popular PM. It is dedicated to the nation in keeping with his call for a new India."

The distance between Chennai and Nashri will now be 10.9 kms (between two ends of the tunnel), instead of the existing 41 kms. Mr Singh called the tunnel is a game changer. "It is a revolution itself. It is a revolution to be watched and studied. It is a case study, and a wonderful creation," he added.

The Chennai-Nashri tunnel is India's first and the world's sixth tunnel to have transverse ventilation system, providing fresh air to passengers. "The ventilation system is enabled by ABB drives and controlled by ABB software," an official of the the company said. ABB is the global leader in industrial technology and operates in approximately 100 countries, including India, according to its official website.

The tunnel, constructed at a cost of Rs. 2,519 crore, will ensure a safe and swift passage for commuters, even in adverse weather conditions. The Chennai-Nashri tunnel is among the longest highway tunnels in Asia.