Following its closure due to incessant rains that triggers mud slides, the Mughal Road has been re-opened for traffic. The opening of the road has come as a big relief to the people of Kashmir Valley and that of Rajouri and Poonch as it is a vital link between the two regions. Recently Union Minister for Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari’s announced that a tunnel will be constructed at Pir Ki Gali. Once this tunnel is made and commissioned, this road will be an all weather road thus lessing peoples’ travel troubles. This alternate highway has helped the populace a lot. Lots of works are going on as for as Srinagar-Jammu national highway is concerned and the new tunnels made have not only reduced the mileage but has eased the travel too. However, this can’t negate the importance of Mughal road as it connects Kashmir Valley with two major boarder towns of Jammu region – Rajouri and Poonch. This road, on one hand, helps people to connect with Jammu region with more ease and on the other hand lessen the burden on Srinagar-Jammu highway. However, it remains closed during winter months and the main reason for the closure is avalanche-prone Pir Ki Gali. Now that the Union Minister has announced the construction of tunnel at the trouble spot, once it is executed, the road will be an all weather road thus not only ensuring ease of traveling but also giving a boost to the economy of both the regions.
Surface communication is one of the basic components of any place’s economy. Kashmir economy has suffered a lot due to frequent closures of Srinagar-Jammu national highway in the past. The closure, particularly has had a very adverse impact on the economy of those involved with horticulture sector. Now that the highway is being redone and renovated on war-footing basis, it will definitely help people here. It gives lot of hope to the people of Kashmir when the Union Government asserts that the dream of having a highway from Kashmir to Kanyakumari will be realised by the beginning of the next year and projects worth Rs 1,25,000 Crore are being proposed for the Union Territory and in the next ten years. once executed, the UT’s road network will match with that of the United States.
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Given the past experience of projects getting delayed by decades, the Union government’s assertions sound like a dream but seeing the progress on Srinagar-Jammu Highway, one can safely say that this dream has a potential to come true if there is a strong will at the part of the government. The better road network will give a boost to UT’s economy and once the Valley is linked through rail with the rest of the country, the tourism industry is going to scale new highest. In today’s world, surface communication is key to economy and more the roads, more the people reap the fruits of progress. However, the government has to ensure that the construction companies engaged for these projects are made to complete the task within prescribed time frame. Delay in construction and execution of projects has been the sad story of Kashmir since ages. On one hand, the delay results into the escalation of project costs and on the hand, non-completion adds to the miseries of the populace. Therefore, one would expect that all these projects are completed within the time frame and work on Mughal road is prioritised to lessen the burden on Srinagar-Jammu highway.
