Officials estimate the new route will cut the distance to Kishtwar by about 177 km compared with the fair weather road via Margan Top, reducing a 280 km journey to roughly 103 km and cutting travel time from about 10 to 11 hours to around four hours. The link is intended to provide year round access that previously existed only for five months.

Work progressed unevenly over decades with sections completed in phases and long pauses in activity. A contractor abandoned the job for two to three years before district authorities pressed for resumption and material was mobilised at critical sites. Agencies now report focused efforts on the remaining stretches and supervision has been stepped up to accelerate completion.

The final stretch covers about 13 km, including roughly two km of hard rock that needs blasting, and two major bridges remain. The Suid bridge will be a steel girder structure with a 35 m span and one embankment is complete; authorities expect its completion in about three months. The Sirshi bridge at Pakkal will have a 58 m span and is due by the end of March 2027.

Project accounts show the 22 km package still needs protection work, surfacing and the two bridges at a value of Rs 222.1 mn while Package I totals Rs 255.8 mn; the remaining package is Rs 121.6 mn. Engineers said contractors have been instructed to follow PMGSY standards and that, subject to the remaining works, the road should be operational in April 2027.