An eight-kilometre tunnel will be built on the Mughal Road, an alternative highway connecting the country by road with the Kashmir Valley. Constructing this tunnel from Ratachhamb in Poonch district to Jarnad in Shopian district is proposed. Shabbir Ahmed Choudhary, Chief Engineer of the Mughal Road Project, claims that due to the construction of the tunnel, this road will be 100 per cent open every season for 12 months.
According to official sources, the proposal of the state government to build a tunnel from Ratachhamb to Jarnad near Pir Ki Gali on Mughal Road is pending with the Union Ministry of Roads and Highways. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has also verbally announced to start the tunnel work soon. However, the notification is to be issued by the Union Ministry.
The Mughal Road is currently being maintained by the Road and Building Construction Department of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. This road connects the Poonch and Rajouri district of the Jammu division with the Kashmir division. The Mughal Road starts from Bafliaz (Poonch) and connects to the Shopian district of Kashmir. The 84-km-long road is currently closed in November or December due to heavy snowfall near Pir Ki Gali and opens only in February or March after clearing weather. Even during the rainy season, landslides or slippages on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway obstruct movement, significantly impacting economic activities.
Twelve months after constructing a tunnel on the Mughal road, a better option can reach Kashmir by this road. This will also reduce the vehicular load on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Shabbir Ahmed Choudhary, Chief Engineer, Mughal Road Project, says that apart from Rajouri and Poonch districts, the Mughal Road will be a better option after the tunnel is built Kashmir by road to other parts of the country. The notification for the construction of this eight-kilometre tunnel is yet to be issued by the Union Ministry of Roads and National Highways.
