Mohsin Peerzada's

Kashmir's Dead Man Curves: The Perils of the Kokernag-Zamalgam Road   Peerzada Mohsin Shafi Last Sunday was both joyful and adventurous for me and my best friends, including Aadil and Aadil, as we visited the famous tourist spot Sinthan Top, located at an altitude of 12,500 feet above sea level. The scenic beauty of Breng has always enchanted me, but this experience was truly unique. The mesmerizing views left such an impression that whenever I close my eyes, I can vividly recall the Kokernag-Daksum-Sinthan Road. From the locals selling gum shoes and jackets to the picturesque views just a kilometre from Daksum, the journey felt like a glimpse of paradise. As we ascended from 7,000 feet (altitude of Kokernag ASL) to 12,500 feet (Altitude of Sinthan Top ASL), the curves of the road became more intriguing. Interestingly, my friends are also civil engineers—one with a master’s degree in transportation engineering and the other in structural engineering. While enjoying the natural beau...

  Has the Vailoo Singhpora Tunnel derailed the prospects of Construction of Kapran Desa Road? Peerzada Mohsin Shafi  When I was in high school, my teacher, Mr. Gulzar Hanief, used to say “Roads are the temples of the modern world.” At that time, I did not fully grasp the meaning of this statement. However, as I grew older, I came to understand its significance. Roads are indeed the backbone of a country. In my opinion, roads are pivotal to the development of any area. They are like magical wands that transform the regions they traverse. According to the Year End Review 2023 published by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) on January 5, 2024, the national highway network has increased by 60%, from 91,287 km in 2014 to 146,145 km in 2023. The government, under MORTH, has launched numerous schemes for constructing both brownfield and greenfield highway projects across the country. Similarly, in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the government has...

Decades of Waiting Ends in Disappointment: The Vailoo Singhpora Tunnel Project Stalls Again. Peerzada Mohsin Shafi (Researcher, Contracts and Planning Engineer, Member ASCE) The residents of Chenab Valley and Kashmir Valley have been dealt a harsh blow as the long-awaited Vailoo Singhpora tunnel project faces yet another setback. The project, envisioned to be a critical infrastructure link, was initially announced by the Government of India (GOI) under the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) with a projected cost of ₹3,253.58 crore. This announcement in 2021 sparked hopes and dreams of better connectivity and economic upliftment in the region. In February 2023, the bids for this significant project were opened. The lowest bid, amounting to ₹2,387 crore, was submitted by TLL-Evrascon, a joint venture between an Indian and an Azerbaijan-based company. The excitement was palpable as this development was seen as a major milestone. The Ministry of R...