Long forgotten, Kashmir plans Mughal Road return to Jammu

Running past fields of maize, pine groves, lush meadows and gushing streams, the Mughal Road will re-connect Shopian in Kashmir to Bufliaz in Poonch district of Jammu, considerably cutting travel time. The other link, the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, is 300 km long.

Also standing to gain from this renewed link are over 20 lakh people living along both sides of the stretch.

Work on the road had started earlier too, but had to be stopped due to the rising militancy in 1992, funds crunch and objections by the Defence Ministry.

This time, the state government has convinced the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to provide Rs 100 crore under the Infrastructure Development Fund. ‘‘The government has also set up an Economic Restructuring Agency (ERA) to ensure that the project gets the money it needs,’’ says J-K Finance Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh.

Mufti has also engaged Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) Ltd and RITES to prepare a feasibility report, and will hand over the Rs 159-crore project to either JKPCC or the Border Roads Organisation.

JKPCC Managing Director Iftikhar Andrabi says the project can be finished in two years. ‘‘We have two big mechanical divisions, which can take care of the road. A good portion is already being repaired by the Roads and Buildings Department and JKPCC. We have to work hard in the 25-30 km belt near Pir ki Gali in Pir Panjal, where we will have to cut the road from rocky cliffs,’’ he said.

The government is also sure that the Defence Ministry won’t stand in the way this time. ‘‘The Centre has nothing to do with the road as it is not a national highway. Except for national highways, roads are the prerogative of the state government,’’ says a close aide of the CM.

According to RITES, of the 84-km route, nearly 40 km has been laid in patches. The report mentions that 19 km from Poshna to Pir Panjal from the Jammu side and another 8 km to Aliabad Saria on the Kashmir side require cutting of hills, which go as high as 3,494 metres at Pir ki Gali, the highest gradient on the road.

However, many are sceptical about whether the government will live up to its promises. ‘‘This road has always been kept hostage by the politicians. What is Rs 150 crore for a government? If the government really wants to lay the road, there cannot be a problem,’’ says Muzaffar Ahmad Mir of Hirpur, the last populated village on the Kashmir side of Pir Panjal.

‘‘This road will eradicate poverity, illiteracy and backwardness in the area. Our business that depends on farming will look up. Our apples and potatoes rot before reaching mandis in cities. If this road is used, instead of the lengthy national highway, we will reach Delhi in 18 hours,’’ says Ghulam Mohideen, who owns an orchard, beside the road.

‘‘The Mughal Road will change our lives for good. Already, the cost of the land has registered a steep increase,’’ he adds. A kanal of land that used to cost Rs 30,000 two years ago now costs Rs 70,000.

The RITES report also makes a mention of the slew of benefits that would come with the road:

• Strategic needs of Defence and security forces would be met; militants would find it hard to use currently inaccessible Pir Panjal ranges as hideouts

• Overall economy of the region and communication, medical, recreational, agriculture and employment facilities in the area will improve

• Pressure on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway will be relieved. Operational costs, fuel consumption of vehicles will be cut

• Natural resources of the area, especially forest, mineral produce and hydroelectricity, can be tapped better