Srinagar, May 9 -- Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel, also known as the Banihal-Qazigund Railway Tunnel, is India's longest railway tunnel, measuring an impressive 11.21 kilometers in length.

It is an engineering marvel, constructed through the tough terrain of the Pir Panjal mountain range in Jammu and Kashmir. Construction of the Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel began in November 2005 and was completed in June 2013. The project significantly improved connectivity to Kashmir, The Economic Times reported

The primary purpose of the tunnel's construction was to provide an all-weather route for trains on the Banihal-Baramulla section of the Kashmir Valley line. Previously, heavy snowfall during winter would disrupt train services in the region for months...