Alternative road to Srinagar gets go ahead

‘‘We have received information that the National Wildlife Board has cleared the project,’’ a senior officer told The Indian Express. ‘‘There is a Supreme Court directive in this regard and the NWLB will submit its report to the court. We will have to wait for the formal order from the Supreme Court.’’

The NWLB had objected to the construction of the road as it passes through the Hirpora sanctuary, home to the endangered Himalayan Markhore. After several visits to the site, the Central board has now given the green signal for the construction of the road. The project will cost the Jammu and Kashmir government Rs 215 crore.

The Mughal Road—named for the route chosen by Mughal emperors—cuts through the Pir Panjal mountains and joins Kashmir with Poonch. The fair-weather road is an alternative to the 300 km Srinagar-Jammu national highway that is closed frequently during the winter.

Only a 20 km stretch from Shopian to Sarbal in Kashmir is currently motorable.

On the Jammu side, the work on the road is in progress and 24 km are already motorable.

The work on the Mughal Road had started earlier too, but had to be stopped in 1992 due to the militancy, financial constraints and objections from the Defence Ministry. The project was, however, restarted by the former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed who engaged Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) Ltd and RITES to prepare a feasibility report.

The new link between the two regions of the state would benefit around 20 lakh people living along the both sides of the stretch.