Mughal Road upgrade on anvil, more facilities in store

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 19

As the Srinagar-Jammu highway is facing regular blockades even during summers, the administration is now pinning hope on an alternative supply route into the Kashmir valley and has ordered an immediate upgrade of Mughal Road.

In a recent meeting chaired by Divisional Commissioner Baseer Ahmad Khan, it was decided to upgrade Mughal Road and provide wayside amenities. The decision was taken as “the importance of Mughal Road” had increased due to frequent closure of the highway, a senior official said.

The Divisional Commissioner directed officials to ensure availability shelter sheds, medical facility, drinking water facility, toilets and also mechanical workshop “so that the road is made commuter-friendly”.

The Srinagar-Jammu highway is the main transit route into the Valley for passengers as well as essential supplies. The highway, which has rugged mountainous stretches, however remained shut for most days during the winter and also faced rare shutdowns during the recent summer weeks due to landslides.

In the wake of the frequent shutdown of the highway, which has led to a shortage of supplies in the Valley, Mughal Road is the only alternative.

Opened for summer traffic in 2009, Mughal Road connects southern Shopian district with Poonch district of the Jammu division. The stretches of Mughal Road, however, are in “dire need of upgradation”, the officials informed the meeting earlier this week.

Another worry for the officials is the Army checkpost at Poshan where each vehicle is scanned which results in accumulation of traffic. “As a result, some vehicles get stranded at Pir Ki Gali for five or six hours,” the officials complained at the meeting and proposed that vehicles should be scanned randomly.

Alternative supply route

• The importance of Mughal Road has increased due to frequent closure of the Srinagar-Jammu highway
• The highway is the main transit route into the Valley for passengers as well as essential supplies. However, it remained shut for most days during winters and also faced rare shutdowns during the recent summer weeks due to landslides
• In the wake of the frequent shutdowns, which has led to a shortage of supplies in the Valley, Mughal Road is the only alternative
• Srinagar Divisional Commissioner has directed officials to ensure availability of basic amenities, including shelter sheds, medical facility, drinking water facility, toilets and also mechanical workshop “so that the road is made commuter-friendly”