Governor travels as Mughal Road, reviews pace of work

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 2 : Governor N. N. Vohra travelled on the Mughal Road and visited Pir Ki Galli.
Emphasizing the high importance of this road, the Governor observed that besides providing the shortest road link between Poonch and Rajouri districts in Jammu division and the Kashmir valley, this Highway will open up the entire area for trekking, mountaineering, tourism and speedy economic development. In this context, the Governor stressed the importance of this important road being fully completed, in every way, on the speediest possible basis.
Mohammad Javed Khan, Deputy Commissioner, Shopian, Mumtaz Ahmad, SP Shopian, Bimal Tikoo, Chief Engineer Mughal Road Project, senior functionaries and engineers of the Hindustan Construction Company, Forests and Wildlife Officers and several other officers were present on the occasion.
Briefing the Governor, Bimal Tikoo, Chief Engineer, Mughal Road Project and Mathew Marcus, senior officer of HCC informed that presently work is apace on the clearance of landslides and snow avalanches, construction of bridges, culverts, drains, retaining and breast walls, widening, surfacing and blacktopping on various stretches of the road. Mr. Tikoo said that so far an amount of Rs 529 crore has been spent on the construction of the 84 kilometre Mughal Road from Bafliaz to Shopian, against an estimated cost of Rs 639.85 crore. This includes the compensation for the removal of structures, trees etc, shifting of services and purchase of snow clearance equipments. He stated that efforts have been intensified to commission this road within the earliest possible timeframe.
The Governor, accompanied by Usha Vohra, First Lady, also visited Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary and took keen interest in the animals and birds species which inhibit this reserved area.
Itesar Suhail, Wildlife Warden Shopian, briefed the Governor about the Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary which spreads over an area of 341 square kilometers. Markhor, which is found in this sanctuary, is a critically endangered species. Other species are Brown Bear, Musk Deer, Leopard and 130 species of birds.
The Governor and the First Lady paid obeisance at the Shrine of Hazrat Ahmad Karim Sahib at Pir Ki Galli and prayed for sustained peace and prosperity in the State.

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