Anantnag 21 June (KNS): MP Anantnag and JKNC leader  Hasnain Masoodi has demanded free movement of traffic including light motor vehicles on Mughal Road.

In a statement issued to Kashmir News Service,  Masoodi has resented restrictions on movement of private transport on Mughal Road stating that ban on light motor vehicles is causing immense inconvenience and hardship to the general public of Pirpanchal and South Kashmir.

Masoodi has called the restrictions unwarranted, unreasonable and inexplicable. When trucks transporting fruit, security forces vehicles and  ambulances are permitted to use Mughal Road, there is no reason to close the road for private vehicles. The authorities at decision making level are expected to realise that people on either side of  Pirpanchal are tied in strong social, cultural and  business relations  and to fulfil social and other commitments people  have to travel on Mughal Road and putting a blanket ban on movement of private light motor vehicles would expose the general public to huge inconvenience. This apart with the Mughal Road closed for traffic, people from Pirpanchal would be deprived of access to healthcare facilities like SKIMS, available at Srinagar, the statement adds.

The closure of Mughal Road for light motor vehicle and passenger traffic would compel the passenger from Poonch, Rajouri, Surankot and Mendhar to take a few hundred km longer route through Banihal to Srinagar.  Masoodi has asked the authorities to allow uninterrupted light motor vehicle traffic on Mughal Road, a lifeline between Pirpanchal and south Kashmir, it added.(KNS)