Shopian, Oct 23: As Kashmir inches towards winter, residents of the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu region and Shopian in south Kashmir have renewed their demand for expediting the construction of a tunnel along the historic Mughal Road, which remains closed for several months every year due to snowfall.
The residents said the absence of an all-weather road connecting the regions disrupts the movement of people, affects trade and tourism, and causes inconvenience to students and other commuters who depend on the route.
In June last year, the Union government approved the construction of the Mughal Road as an all-weather road, a move aimed at providing a reliable alternative to the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. The project is expected to improve connectivity between the Jammu and Kashmir regions and reduce dependence on the existing highway.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had described the approval as a major achievement of his government, highlighting the road’s importance for improving connectivity and boosting economic activity in the region.
Officials said the detailed project report (DPR) for the construction of a tunnel along the Mughal Road is being prepared. However, residents said they were concerned about the pace of progress, as another winter was approaching and the road was likely to remain inaccessible for an extended period.
“The moment winter approaches, we know that the road will be closed for several months. This disrupts the movement of people between Shopian and the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch,” said Nazir Ahmad, a resident of Shopian.
He said the seasonal closure also affected businesses that depended on the movement of people and goods across the regions.
“Businesses take a hit when the road remains shut. People have to take longer routes, which increases travel costs and consumes more time. A tunnel would provide much-needed relief to people on both sides of the PirPanjal,” Ahmad said.
Irshad Ahmad, a resident of Rajouri, said the lack of an all-weather link forced people to travel via Jammu to reach south Kashmir during the winter months.
“We have to take a long detour via Jammu when the Mughal Road is closed. This makes travelling difficult, particularly for people who need to visit Kashmir for work or other essential purposes. We hope the work on the tunnel will be taken up soon,” he said.
The closure also creates difficulties for students from Kashmir who are enrolled at Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University in Rajouri. Many students said they faced uncertainty and additional travel difficulties when snowfall rendered the road inaccessible.
They said a tunnel would provide more dependable connectivity, allowing students to travel between their homes and the university without having to rely on a road that remains vulnerable to winter weather.
The Mughal Road, which passes through the PirPanjal mountain range, connects Shopian in south Kashmir with Poonch and Rajouri in the Jammu region. Apart from serving as an important route for local residents, it holds historical significance and has the potential to promote tourism and economic activity across the PirPanjal region.
Residents said an all-weather connection would help strengthen links between the two regions, improve access to educational institutions and healthcare facilities, and provide businesses with a more dependable transport corridor.
They said the preparation of the DPR was an important step, but stressed that the process needed to move forward without unnecessary delays.
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