Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Apr 22: With the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44) remaining closed for the third consecutive day due to landslides caused by inclement weather, commuters have increasingly turned to the historic Mughal Road as an alternative route. However, the lack of basic facilities along this vital link has emerged as a pressing concern for travellers.
The closure of NH-44 has severely impacted vehicular movement, especially for trucks carrying essential commodities, disrupting supply chains and causing hardships for transporters and the general public.
An official from the Traffic Department informed the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that restoration work is actively ongoing. “Men and machinery have been pressed into service, and efforts are underway to restore traffic at the earliest,” he said.
The Mughal Road, which connects Shopian in south Kashmir with Poonch and Rajouri in the Jammu region, has seen a dramatic spike in traffic volume. On Monday, light motor vehicles (LMVs) were permitted to travel from Shopian to Poonch, and on Tuesday, LMVs were allowed from both directions. Thousands of vehicles are reported to have successfully used the route over the past two days.
Traffic authorities, in coordination with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), are exploring the possibility of allowing heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) on the route soon, the official said.
He said additional personnel have been deployed to manage the increased traffic flow, and health centres along the road have been instructed to operate round-the-clock.
Despite these efforts, commuters expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of essential amenities along the Mughal Road. They called for the construction of hotels, washrooms and mechanic shops, saying such facilities are crucial for safe and comfortable travel, especially during emergency closures of NH-44.
“This is a good alternative route for the people of J&K, but the lack of basic infrastructure makes it extremely difficult,” said one commuter. Others reiterated the long-standing demand for a tunnel along the route, which they believe would help establish the Mughal Road as a year-round travel option.
Officials have urged travellers to confirm the road status and traffic advisories before embarking on their journeys to avoid unnecessary inconvenience. (KNO)
