*Long traffic jams irk road users
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Sept 16: The historic Mughal Road has once again emerged as the lifeline of Kashmir valley, ensuring the uninterrupted supply of essentials amid prolonged closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. With the highway, the region’s primary arterial link shut for nearly 10 days following major damage at Tharad near Udhampur due to recent heavy rainfall, the Mughal Road became the sole alternate route connecting the Valley with the rest of the country.
Though the Jammu-Srinagar highway has been partially restored for restricted light motor vehicle movement, heavy vehicles remained stranded, forcing transporters to rely on the Mughal Road. Thousands of trucks carrying food grains, vegetables, fuel, and other essentials are now plying daily on this alternate 90-kilometre route that links Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch districts in Jammu division. The road has effectively averted a full-scale supply crisis, offering a much-needed breather to the Valley.
However, the sudden surge in traffic has exposed the limitations of this mountainous route. Narrow stretches, sharp curves, and single-direction heavy vehicle movement on alternate days have led to frequent and long traffic jams, particularly around Pir Ki Gali. Transporters, fruit growers, and commuters alike are facing immense hardships due to congestion and delays.
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Even with the extensive damage caused to the road in Kalidhar area, long traffic jams are being witnessed in this belt as well for the last few days. In the absence of sufficient Traffic cops along this highway, the problems of the commuters have increased, leading to long traffic jams.
This situation has once again brought to the fore the urgent need for upgradation of the Mughal Road into a four-lane highway with tunnel construction. A modernized Mughal Road would not only ease traffic flow but also serve as a dependable year-round alternative to the vulnerable Jammu-Srinagar Highway. Such development would be a game-changer for the economy, preventing recurring losses to Kashmir’s fruit industry and ensuring reliable connectivity for essential supplies.
Alongside, the Jammu-Poonch road is also witnessing heavy traffic pressure and requires immediate expansion into a four-lane corridor. Together, the four-laning of Mughal Road and Jammu-Poonch Road can provide the region with a strong, sustainable, and all-weather connectivity framework, minimizing dependence on a single highway and securing the economic lifeline of millions.
As convoys crawl through the Mughal Road’s challenging terrain, the route stands both as a symbol of resilience and a reminder of the region’s pressing infrastructure needs. The people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly transporters and fruit growers, await concrete steps from the authorities to upgrade this historic road into a modern highway that matches its importance in today’s times.
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