Asia's longest bi directional road tunnel, an important highway connectivity project, was planned to be launched in which Indian state?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Jammu and Kashmir

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Large infrastructure projects such as long road tunnels are important for economic development and strategic connectivity, especially in mountainous regions. Asia's longest bi directional road tunnel, connecting important stretches of national highways, received significant media coverage when it was built and planned for launch. General knowledge questions often ask in which state such a landmark project is located, because this shows awareness of regional development and infrastructure planning in India.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The project is described as Asia's longest bi directional road tunnel.
  • The tunnel is associated with a national highway improvement in India.
  • The options include the states or union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Mizoram, and Maharashtra.
  • We assume that the question refers to the Chenani Nashri or similar tunnel project which was widely reported.


Concept / Approach:
The concept tested is knowledge of key infrastructure achievements in India. The Chenani Nashri tunnel, later renamed the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Tunnel, is an engineering marvel located on the Jammu Srinagar national highway in the former state of Jammu and Kashmir. It has frequently been described as Asia's longest bi directional road tunnel. Therefore, connecting this description with the state is the core of the approach.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that such a long bi directional tunnel is most likely to be built in a hilly or mountainous region where surface road connectivity is difficult.Step 2: Among the given options, Jammu and Kashmir has mountainous terrain and is known for the Jammu Srinagar highway that requires tunnels and passes.Step 3: Recall that the Chenani Nashri tunnel on National Highway 44 in Jammu and Kashmir has been highlighted as Asia's longest bi directional road tunnel.Step 4: Note that Delhi and Maharashtra are not typical locations for such a very long highway tunnel, and Mizoram had no widely reported project of this exact description at the time.Step 5: Select Jammu and Kashmir as the correct answer.


Verification / Alternative check:
Alternative verification can be done by remembering that this tunnel project aimed to reduce the distance and travel time between Jammu and Srinagar by bypassing difficult mountain sections. News reports frequently mentioned it as a record setting tunnel in the region of Jammu and Kashmir. None of the other listed states appeared in such reports, confirming that Jammu and Kashmir is the correct location.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B (Delhi) is incorrect because Delhi is largely a plain region and has no record of hosting Asia's longest bi directional road tunnel. Option C (Mizoram), while hilly, did not have a tunnel project widely recognised by that title in the period under discussion. Option D (Maharashtra) has road tunnels, especially on the Mumbai Pune Expressway, but they are not the longest bi directional tunnel in Asia, so the description does not match.


Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may guess based on the existence of smaller tunnels in Maharashtra or on the general idea that any hilly state could have such a tunnel, leading to random selection. Others may be tempted to choose Delhi simply because it is a capital region, even though the geography does not favour very long tunnels. A better strategy is to connect the description to well known projects like the Jammu Srinagar highway tunnel that are frequently highlighted in current affairs materials.


Final Answer:
The correct answer is Jammu and Kashmir, where Asia's longest bi directional road tunnel on the Jammu Srinagar national highway was developed.

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