Srinagar, May 14 (KNS): The delay of the Government to open the Mughal road is creating problems for the traders and people alike who can use it as alternate route when existing Srinagar-Jammu highway shuts due to landslides.
The 84-kilometre road remains closed for almost six months a year due to snow. The Mughal road used to reopen in April but this year traders say it has been delayed due to unknown reasons.
The traders told KNS that Government is not showing any kind of urgency in clearing the snow on the Mughal road.
"Anything is possible if Government is interested in opening the road. Srinagar- Kargil road was thrown open before the scheduled time. Why Mughal road is deliberately being ignored," they said.
The inclement weather that leads to its frequent closure causes shortage of supplies in the Valley and Mughal Road eases the situation.
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 kilometres.
Valley businessmen have been demanding construction of a tunnel to make it all-weather connectivity.
When KNS contacted Deputy Commissioner Shopian, Yaseen Choudhary, he said, " we have yet to receive the orders from higher ups to open the road."(KNS)