Mughal Road expected to be thrown open in a day or two: Div Com

Srinagar: The Mughal Road, which links Kashmir Valley with Rajouri and Poonch areas in Jammu, is likely to be thrown open for traffic on Sunday.

The 84-kilometre road remains closed for almost six months a year due to snow.

“The deadline for re-opening of the road is today,” Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan told Greater Kashmir. “We are hopeful that in a day or two the road will be thrown open for traffic.”

Currently, the two-day traffic ban on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, besides inclement weather that leads to its frequent closure, has caused shortage of supplies in the Valley. An open Mughal Road is likely to ease the situation.

Official sources said that this year the snow clearance was delayed on the strategically important Mughal Road because it does not have its own mechanical division.

“The snow clearance on the road was once again delayed this year due to the lack of men and machinery,” an official said and added that the road used to reopen in April but this year snow clearance operation itself started in April.

Also, much time was spent in clearing about 20 avalanches. A single avalanche is said to have been cleared in a week.

The Mughal Road passes through the Pir Panchal mountain range at an altitude of 3,500 meters (11,500 ft), higher than the Banihal pass at 2,832 meters. The road has reduced the distance between Shopian town in Kashmir and Poonch in Jammu region from 588 to 126 kilometers.

Valley businessmen who do business with Poonch and Rajouri say the prolonged closure has hit their businesses. They have been demanding construction of a tunnel that would make possible all-weather connectivity or adequate snow clearance measures.