The more than four centuries-old historic Mughal Road may be a better alternative to reach Kashmir Valley from rest of the country, even during bad weather conditions when the 300 km-long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remains closed for several weeks due to rains, snowfall and landslides at geographically unstable Batote-Ramban-Banihal stretch.
The 89 km-long and 421-year-old Mughal Road, passing through Bufliaz-Shopian, a geographically sound and stable terrain, will also accelerate economic, tourism and horticulture development and provide better opportunities to the 20 lakh people, living across the Pir-Panjal range, experts said.
One of the oldest routes of the country, the highway has been cleared of all roadblocks and work will be starting to connect the Valley with Poonch and Rajouri districts as the Supreme Court has allowed its construction through the Heerpora Wildlife Sanctuary.
The apex court, in its decision on last Friday, had asked the government to hand over 165 sq-km of forestland and Rs 12 crore to the Wildlife. After the apex court's decision, the state government had said it would try to complete the construction of this vital road link between Jammu and Kashmir in the shortest possible time.
''The project cost of this road is Rs 255 crore and we have spent Rs 94 crore till now,'' an official of public works department (PWD) said.
''The work on this route, traversing the Pir-Panjal range, began in 1979 during the period of then chief minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, but the project could not materialised. One of the reasons was its strategic location and possible misuse for infiltration by terrorists. But with opening of the Uri-Muzaffarabad road, the Defence Ministry has been quick to downplay such apprehensions,'' says Ram Chander Sharma, a Rajouri based social activist.
Sharma said the legal objection was from a Kashmir-based NGO since the road passes through the sanctuary, home to highly endangered species like the Kashmiri markhore, also referred to as mountain goats but this could be overcome by constructing a tunnel, instead.
The distance and travel time to Poonch and Rajouri from Srinagar would also be reduced from 588 km and 518 km to 126 km and 158 km respectively, Sharma said, adding that the all weather Mughal Road will also be an alternative to the Srinagar-Jammu national highway that is often blocked due to bad weather.
''About 421 years ago, the Mughal road was abuzz with traffic of caravans of Mughal emperors and their royal armies to keep control of Kashmir. All time Great Mughal Emperor Jalaludeen Muhammad Akbar had used this route to conquer Kashmir in 1586 AD.
The Mughal commanders chose the most feasible and shortest route to the Kashmir Valley passing through Bufliaz-Shopian, now known as the Mughal road,'' says senior writer and Kashmir Expert Padm Vibhushan Balraj Puri.