In pics: Chenani-Nashri, India's longest tunnel, launched by Modi on Sunday

In pics: Chenani-Nashri, India's longest tunnel, launched by Modi on Sunday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday dedicated Asia's longest bi-directional road tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway to the nation. The Chenani-Nashri tunnel will cut down travel time between Jammu and Srinagar by two hours.

Modi was accompanied by Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari and Minister of State for PMO and MP from Kathua-Udhampur constituency, Jitendra Singh.

The Rs 2,519-crore all-weather tunnel is equipped with world-class safety features and has been built in a record four years on the hilly terrain of Jammu and Kashmir, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had said earlier.

"This state-of-the-art 10.89-km tunnel between Udhampur and Ramban in Jammu and Kashmir, an engineering marvel on the most difficult terrain of the Himalayas, was built in a record four years," the minister had said.

"The project will result in a saving of Rs 27 lakh per day based on traffic estimates and would cut the travel distance between Jammu and Sringar by 41 km," Gadkari said. Read more

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Michael Phelps wins 200m freestyle at Mesa Pro Swim

The US swimming star Michael Phelps grabbed a win in the men's 200m freestyle at the Mesa Pro Swim here.

Phelps made a low key start at the competition on Thursday, but the 200m win was a confidence booster in an event he's found tough in his comeback, reportsXinhua.

"I swam that like I used to always swim it," said Phelps, who smashed the 200m free world record and made it one of his eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

"I kind of just stepped on the gas in the first hundred, and that's when I swim my best 200 free."

The 18-time Olympic gold medalist just missed out on qualifying for the championship final in the event.

His winning "B" final time of 1:48.21 would have given him bronze in the championship race won by Conor Dwyer in 1:46.61.

"I think the biggest thing I had tonight is I was able to get confidence back in that race," Phelps said. "I haven't really swum that race well in a long time."

Phelps, always cagey about just what his Olympic program plans are, said he wasn't sure if he'd tackle the 200m free at the US Olympic trials in June.