Historic Mughal road reopens for one-way traffic
Srinagar: One-way traffic for vehicles carrying fruit and essential commodities was resumed on historic 86-km-long historic Mughal road after remaining suspended for about six months due to accumulation of snow.
An official spokesman said no passenger traffic will be allowed on the road which connects Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region.
Interestingly for J&K traffic police, the road is still closed due to snow.
Fruit growers supported by several political parties were demanding immediate reopening of the Mughal road alleging that Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained frequently closed due to landslides and other problems badly hitting transportation of fruit to mandis across the country.
On Tuesday vehicles carrying essentials will ply from Shopian to other side of the Pir-ki-Gali, he said adding vehicular traffic exclusively for transportation of fresh fruits, includig Cherry, Peach, Plum, Apricot to outside State. No vehicle will be allowed from opposite direction, he said.
However, he said the timing of the movement of trucks would be from 1100 hrs to 1600 hrs. The instruction for truckers said it shall be ensured that vehicles should be preferably 4×4 or mechanically sound and vehicles should not be overloaded and should carry load as per permissible tonnage. Drivers driving the vehicles shall be experienced and familiar with the said hilly road. Each vehicle shall have one driver and a conductor only,” the order said.
Meanwhile, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole has ordered the district administration Shopian to establish a health checkup centre on the road. The district authorities would also consider weather advisory on a daily-basis before allowing the traffic movement, while all advisories regarding mitigation of COVID-19 would also be adhered to in letter and spirit.
Traffic on the road, which is seen as alternative to Srinagar-Jammu national highway, was suspended in December last year due to heavy snowfall, particularly at Dubjan, Aliabad, Pir-ki-Gali and Bafliaz. Though snow clearance was started from both sides of Pir-ki-Gali but due to COVID-19 pandemic it was hampered.
After protests by fruit growers, snow clearance operation was intensified and road was put through though huge snow walls could be still seen on both sides of the road.
Meanwhile, president of the Apni Party (AP) Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday welcomed the government decision of re-open Mughal road for transportation of fruit from Kashmir to different parts of the country.
In a statement issued here this afternoon, Bukhari said the government decision to allow downward vehicular traffic for transportation of cherry, peach, plum, and apricot to outside Kashmir is appreciable.
Bukhari extended gratitude to the Lieutenant Governor G.C Murmu for this significant decision which has provided a sigh of relief to the cherry and other fruit growers who will now be allowed to send their produce to outside Jammu Kashmir.
“This decision is bound to help the growers in a long way to gain better yield for their produce, the major portion of which is still to be harvested. I hope the rest of the produce is not wasted and is transported without any hassles to the outside J&K markets for better sales,” he added.
Bukhari demanded that the J&K government should now keep this prestigious road open for the transportation of fruit and vegetables round the year in view of the dilapidated condition of Srinagar-Jammu national highway.
Stating that the lockdown to curb spread of COVID-19 has badly disrupted the long spring migration of thousands of Bakarwal and Gujjar families across Jammu and Kashmir, the AP president urged the government of J&K to allow the movement of Bakarwal families who want to travel to Kashmir division from various parts of Jammu region along-with their livestock for season migration via Mughal Road.
“The delay in their migration will have a cascading effect on the lives of the nomadic communities and their traditional businesses, which are closely aligned with the seasons and land use patterns of the regions,” Bukhari remarked.
KV News
