Develop Mughal Road into all-weather route

Once again, the closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway due to persistent landslides and shooting stones has left the people of Kashmir cut off from the rest of the country. This recurring crisis, now almost routine during adverse weather, disrupts lives, halts economic activity, delays medical aid, and hampers the supply of essentials. In this light, the focus must now be shifted to the Mughal Road, a historic and strategically important route connecting Kashmir Valley with the Poonch-Rajouri region of Jammu. While functional during fair weather, the road remains underdeveloped, narrow, and highly vulnerable during winter months and bad weather. But its potential to serve as a reliable alternative to the Srinagar-Jammu highway cannot be overstated. It is high time for the government to prioritize widening the Mughal Road and constructing tunnels at vulnerable junctures, particularly in high-altitude stretches like Pir Ki Gali. These upgrades are not just infrastructure development; they are strategic necessities, vital for disaster resilience, economic stability and uninterrupted connectivity. The people of Kashmir deserve more than a single lifeline. Relying solely on one highway — plagued by nature’s fury and logistical limitations — is neither sustainable nor safe. Kashmir needs reliable roads to stay connected — not just for convenience, but for survival, stability, and dignity. Let the Mughal Road be transformed from a seasonal bypass into a robust, year-round national asset. Developing the Mughal Road into an all-weather route would not only ease pressure on the national highway but also open new avenues for trade, tourism, and regional development in areas like Poonch and Rajouri.