"Banihal" means blizzard in Kashmiri language. It has an average elevation of 1,666 m (5,466 ft). It is located some 37 km (23 mi) away from Qazigund of Anantnag district on NH 1A highway. Banihal Pass (Devanagari: बनिहाल दर्रा) at 2,832 m (9,291 ft) elevation on Pir Panjal mountain connects Banihal with Qazigund on the other side of the mountain. The Pir Panjal mountain range separates the Kashmi
r valley in the Indian state Jammu and Kashmir from the outer Himalaya and plains to the south. After closure of the Murree-Muzaffarabad-Srinagar road on partition of India in 1947, Banihal pass was the only passage from Jammu to Srinagar after independence until 1956 when a tunnel was bored through the mountain. The pass is accessible only in summer and remains closed rest of the year due to heavy snow. Banihal Road Tunnels
Existing road tunnel
A 2.5 km (1.6 mi) long tunnel through Pir Panjal mountain under the Banihal pass connects Banihal with Qazigund on the other side of the mountain. The tunnel named Jawahar tunnel after the first Prime Minister of India was constructed in early 1950s and commissioned in December 1956 to ensure snow-free passage throughout the year. However, it remains closed for a few weeks in winter due to snow avalanches. It is at elevation of about 2,100 m (6,900 ft). It was designed for 150 vehicles per day but now used by more than 7,000 vehicles per day..Therefore a new wider and longer tunnel has been planned at a lower elevation. Jawahar tunnel is maintained by Border Road Organisation (BRO) of the Indian army and guarded 24x7 by the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force), which also monitors it by CCTVs as the tunnel is vital for the Kashmir valley.
[edit]Proposed road tunnel
Construction of a new 8.45 km (5.25 mi) long Banihal-Qazigund road tunnel has started. The new tunnel is at a lower elevation than the existing Jawahar tunnel and, when completed, would reduce the road distance between Banihal and Qazigund by 16 km (9.9 mi). It would also be less prone to snow avalanche as it will be at a lower elevation. Banihal Rail Tunnel
Construction of a new 11 km (6.8 mi) long Banihal-Qazigund tunnel for the Kashmir railway line is nearing completion. The boring has been completed in October 2011 but the rail tracks have not been laid yet. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2012. Its elevation is 440 m (1,440 ft) below the existing road tunnel.[3] Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel is India's longest and Asia's second longest railway tunnel and reduced the distance between Quazigund and Banihal by 11 km (6.8 mi). As of 2001 India census,[5] Banihal had a population of 2,729. Males constitute 57% of the population and females 43%.
