Mughal Road better alt of Jammu-Srinagar NH

Jammu, July 30: More than four centuries-old historic Mughal Road may be a better alternative to reach Kashmir Valley from rest of the country, even during bad weather conditions when 300 km-long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remains closed for several weeks due to rains, snowfall and landslides at geographically unstable Batote-Ramban-Banihal stretch.

The 89 km-long and 421-year-old Mughal Road, passing through Bufliaz-Shopian, a geographically sound and stable terrain, will also accelerate economic, tourism and horticulture development and provide better opportunities to the 20 lakh people, living across the Pir-Panjal range, experts said.

One of the oldest routes of the country, has been cleared of all roadblocks and work would be starting to connect the Valley with Poonch and Rajouri districts as the Supreme Court has allowed its construction through the Heerpora Wildlife Sanctuary.

The apex court, in its decision on last Friday, had asked the government to hand over 165 sq-km of forestland and Rs 12 crore to the Wildlife. After the apex court's decision, the state government had said it would try to complete the construction of this vital road link between Jammu and Kashmir in the shortest possible time.

As Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad desired, this work will be put on to double shift. ''The project cost of this road is Rs 255 crore and we have spent Rs 94 crore till now,'' an official of public works department (PWD) said.

''The work on this route, traversing the Pir-Panjal range, began in 1979 during the period of then Chief Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, but the project could not materialised. One of the reasons was its strategic location and possible misuse for infiltration by terrorists. But with opening of the Uri-Muzaffarabad road, the Defence Ministry has been quick to downplay such apprehensions,'' says Ram Chander Sharma, a Rajouri based social activist.

Mr Sharma said the legal objection was from a Kashmir-based NGO since the road passes through the sanctuary, home to highly endangered species like the Kashmiri markhore, also referred to as mountain goats but this could be overcome by constructing a tunnel, instead.

The distance and travel time to Poonch and Rajouri from Srinagar would also be reduced from 588 km and 518 km to 126 km and 158 km respectively, Mr Sharma said, adding that the all weather Mughal Road will also be an alternative to the Srinagar-Jammu national highway that is often blocked due to bad weather.

''About 421 years ago, the Mughal road was abuzz with traffic of caravans of Mughal emperors and their royal armies to keep control of Kashmir. All time Great Mughal Emperor Jalaludeen Muhammad Akbar had used this route to conquer Kashmir in 1586 AD. The Mughal commanders chose the most feasible and shortest route to the Kashmir Valley passing through Bufliaz-Shopian, now known as the Mughal road,'' says senior writer and Kashmir Expert Padm Vibhushan Balraj Puri.

The political parties and common people in the state have been demanding the opening of the Mughal road, he said, adding that the government must undertake this project on a priority basis as it will prove to be a boon for the people to contact with areas across the Line of Control (LoC), besides promoting trade. The Chief Minister had announced to open the old Janger-Mirpur-Kotli road and the old Mughal road, connecting Lahore-Bhimber-Nowshera-Bufliaz-Shopian, by converting it into a four-lane project to foster friendship between the two countries, Mr R K Kalsotra, a Bank Officer and activist, said, adding that a Delhi-Lahore-Srinagar-Leh-Manali-Delhi safari trip can also be started to boost tourism and adventure sports.

''The world is now being converted into a global village under the impact of globalisation. Borders between countries are becoming redundant and hatred is being converted into mutual trust and friendship. A South Asia rail link is being considered to connect Kabul and Hanoi through Myanmar. The people of Kashmir also need to be integrated with the outside world,'' Mr Kalsotra said.

''The menace of terrorism cannot be crushed by gun, but by all round development and economic prosperity, Mr Kalasotra said, adding that Jammu and Kashmir needs an all weather transport lifeline, particularly to connect the Valley with Jammu.

The Jammu-Srinagar highway remains to be closed during bad weather conditions. The people need an alternative road link to go the Valley, says Yavraj Gupta, a retired Railway officer who visited Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) last year.

For the past six decades, the Centre has spent thousands of crores of rupees to maintain the present highway, the lifeline to the Kashmir Valley, he said.

As per the blueprint, the road betweem Bafliaz to Shopian will pass through Chandimarh, Dugram, Pir Panjar pass, Ghurd, Aliahad Saria, Sukh Saria and Heerpura and will criss-cross 11,500 to 13,000 feet mountain ranges, which is higher than Banihal pass on Jammu- Srinagar national highway and the present entry point to Kashmir valley.

The road still has several monuments constructed by the Mughals.

In Chingus in Rajouri district emperor Jahangir died on his way back from Kashmir and his body was kept in a fort at the place. On this road, a rest house was built by the Mughals, which still exists at Muradapora.

There is a rest house at Naynsukh, a grand Sarai at Thanamandi and a terrace at Noori Chump waterfall named after the queen of Jahangir. A Mughal rest house still stands at mountain peak at Chandimarh followed by small rest houses at Alyabad, Ziarat of Peer Baba at Pir-ki-Gali, Dubjian, near the Sulphur springs, and a big rest house, now in dilapidated condition, at Heerapura (Shopian).

UNI