Shopian, Apr 26: The famous Mughal road, which is paved through the lofty Pir Panjal range, has proved very effective in promoting the economic and commercial activities of district Shopian.
Earlier, ponies and horses were used as a means to travel on the Mughal road and it was famous as Namak road (Salt Route). After Mughals – who used the road to travel to Kashmir – surmounted Kashmir, the Namak road came to be known as Mughal road.
According to the local residents of district Shopian, with the travelers from Rajouri district staying in the hotels of Shopian, Mughal road has boosted their commercial activities and has also facilitated a convenient market for their apples.
“Farmers of district Shopian have got a motorable access to the Rajouri market for selling their produce and similarly the people of Rajouri can easily travel to Shopian for various business purposes,” said the local residents.
“Mughal road has proved very beneficial to us, it has made our business prosperous, when the road is thrown open for the traffic, the markets here witness a huge rush of travelers,” they added.
A resident of district Shopian Bashir Ahmad Malik told ‘Kashmir Images’ that Mughal road has improved the connectivity between Shopian and Rajouri. “With the ease of connectivity between the two districts, we are easily able to transport and sell our products in the areas of Rajouri district, we easily get laborers from Rajouri District, who come here during Apple harvesting season,” said Malik.
“We are witnessing a huge rush of tourists and travelers in our area, the market remains open till midnight nowadays which was not the case before, there are various tourist places in this area that also got promoted,” he added.
Vice president Taxi and Sumo stand, Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh said, “Mughal road has boosted the ‘transport business’ in district Shopian as the Mughal road is the shortest distance for reaching Poonch and Rajouri. Travelers from Rajouri district prefer Mughal road over the National Highway for travelling to different parts of Kashmir valley as the road minimize their travel distance.”
Khursheed said that Mughal road remains closed for about 6 months due to the snowfall which completely halts their business activities. “Our transport business wholly depends on Rajouri and poonch district and when the road gets closed, we are left with no work,” Said Malik.
“We suggest the government to build a tunnel that would ensure 12-month traffic movement on the Mughal road,” he added.
Assistant Engineer Mughal Road Project Organization Malik Saleem said, “Mughal road has bridged two districts, Rajouri and Shopian, and boosted the trade of these two districts.”
