Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated a 10.89-kilometre tunnel that will reduce travel time on troubled Jammu and Kashmir state's main highway and bypass a treacherous mountain road stretch prone to landslides.
"The tunnel inaugurated today is world class," Modi said during a speech at the nearby town of Udhampur after inaugurating the Chenani-Nashri tunnel, India's longest tunnel so far.
Modi said the tunnel would usher in development and help trade and tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.
Picturesque Kashmir valley, nestled in the Himalayas, has always been a popular tourist destination. But the industry, a mainstay for its people, has been hard hit by the conflict in the region.
India-administered Kashmir has seen a violent militant movement since the 1980s with a huge Indian military presence to subdue it.
Strong anti-India feelings are often evident in protests in the region.
More than 44,000 people - civilians, rebels and security forces - have been killed in the conflict.
"Some misguided youngsters are pelting stones but see here, youth of Kashmir are using same stones to build infrastructure," Modi said at the rally.
Kashmiri youth need to make a choice between tourism and terrorism, he said.
Nine more similar state-of-the-art, environment-friendly tunnels would be built in the region, Modi said.
His Bharatiya Janata Party is in a coalition government with the regional People's Democratic Party in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chenani-Nashri tunnel is India's longest.
