Peace map unrolled on border, road survey done

Ties between India and Pakistan appear to be headed towards another high, with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) having completed a survey...

Ties between India and Pakistan appear to be headed towards another high, with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) having completed a survey on the opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road — a long standing demand of people on both sides.

The survey, according to sources, was taken up by the BRO and the State Public Works Department in the first week of January. They reported that the road till Uri could be made operational within four months. The BRO also reported that they would have to build a bally bridge between Uri and a place close to the first post in Muzzafarabad. A bridge existed earlier, but was damaged during the 1947 war, when the 250 km Srinagar-Muzzafarabad road was closed. The road passed through Baramullah and Uri on the Indian side, Kohla and Kotli in PoK, and went on to Rawalpindi.

In a meeting held in Srinagar recently, the BRO — a wing of the Army — said that the area had been completely de-mined. The Army had laid landmines in the hilly terrain during Operation Parakram.

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Sources said that the state government had asked for an early restoration of the bus service between Srinagar and Muzzafarabad. But before that can happen, the 102 km road from Srinagar to Uri needs to be widened. ‘‘For this, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had requested Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for extension of the North-South corridor (Srinagar to Kanyakumari highway project) till Uri, instead of Srinagar as the last point,’’ an official in the Home Ministry disclosed.

In fact, the state government submitted a project of Rs 570 crore to the Centre to make it a four-lane highway from Srinagar to Uri. ‘‘If the Srinagar-Muzzafarabad road has to be opened, it is necessary to widen this stretch for reasons of safety and convenience. The state government has even promised that acquisition of road for the project will not be a problem,’’ the official added. With a positive assurance from the Centre to consider the request, and in anticipation of the opening of the road, the state government has started planning to set up wayside tourist facilities. ‘‘They have said that they are planning bus stops on the way, and also restaurants, toilets and motels,’’ the official said. After the resumption of the Samjhauta Express and air links between the two countries, they have now agreed to hold technical level talks on the bus link between Srinagar and Muzzafarabad. It formed part of the 12 proposals mooted by India last October.

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