Mughal Road
Alibaad sarai.jpg
Aliabad Sarai, a halting point on old Mughal road
Route information
Length80 km (50 mi)
Major junctions
East endShopian, Shopian district
West endBufliaz, Poonch district
Location
CountryIndia
StatesJammu and Kashmir
Highway system
The Mughal Road crosses the Pir Panjal Pass.

Mughal Road is the road between Bufliaz, a town in the Poonch district, to the Shopian district, in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The 84-kilometre road[1] traces a historic route used in the Mughal period over the Pir Panjal Pass, at an altitude of 3,500 m (11,500 ft), higher than the Banihal pass at 2,832 m (9,291 ft).[2]

The road connects Poonch and Rajouri to Srinagar in the Kashmir valley, and reduces the distance between Shopian and Poonch from 588 km to 126 km.[3] It also provides an alternative route into the Kashmir valley off the Jammu-Srinagar highway.[4] The road passes through Buffliaz, Behramgalla, Chandimarh, Dogray (Dogran), Godawan, Poshana, Chattapani, Peer Ki Gali, Aliabad, Zaznar, Dubjian, Hirpora, and Shopian.

History

A route linking Hirapur (modern Hirpora) in the Kashmir Valley with Poonch via the Pir Panjal Pass (Peer Ki Gali) has been used from ancient times. During the period of the sultans, it was extended to Bhimber. Historian Mohibbul Hasan says it played an important role during this period.[5]: 23–24 

After conquering the Kashmir Valley, the emperor Akbar strengthened the route into an 'Imperial Road' stretching from Lahore to Kashmir.[5]: 24  In modern times, the route has been referred to as the 'Mughal Road'.[6]

The route has also been traditionally used by the nomadic pastoral communities of Gujjars and Bakerwals for their seasonal migration.[7]

Construction

The new road was proposed in the 1950s to improve the economy of the Kashmir valley. The then chief minister Sheikh Abdullah took up this project in 1979 and named it the 'Mughal Road', but it came to a halt as terrorism took over. Bafliaz Bridge on the road was blown up by the terrorists.[8]

Actual construction began in October 2005 with a target of completion in March 2007 and an estimated cost of 255 crore rupees.[9] A conservation trust petitioned the Supreme Court to stop construction, citing the disturbance to animals in the Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary, especially the endangered Markhor goat;[10] and claiming the road would get early snowfall in winter and hence would not serve as an alternate route to the existing Jammu-Srinagar highway. However, the court gave conditional permission for the construction of the road.[9]

The construction due to be completed in December 2008,[11] was delayed for a number of reasons, including the Amar Nath land row. The road was opened on 12 July 2009 for inspection by state legislators, officials, engineers, and others. It was supposed to be thrown open for light vehicles in October 2010 but the law-and-order situation in Kashmir in 2010 imposed delays.[1][12] A double-lane road was completed and opened for light vehicles in August 2012.[13]

A Mughal Road Car Rally has been held annually since 2010.[14] It covers 600 km, including the picturesque stretch across Pir Panjal.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=6_12_2008&ItemID=35&cat=1
  2. ↑ Luv Puri (23 March 2008). "Mughal Road to be ready this year". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  3. ↑ "Mughal Road: A blast from the past - Times of India". articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  4. ↑ "Mughal Road". Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
  5. 1 2 Hasan, Mohibbul (1959), Kashmir under the Sultans, Aakar Books, ISBN 978-81-87879-49-7
  6. ↑ "Now, Mughal Road To Connect J&K". The Times of India. 14 July 2005.
  7. ↑ Naseer Ganai, Nomadic Gujjars back on migration trail in Kashmir Valley, India Today, 12 May 2015.
  8. ↑ "Daily Excelsior.........State". Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  9. 1 2 "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Jammu & Kashmir".
  10. ↑ "Controversy over J&K; government's plan to revive Mughal road | Features | Down to Earth magazine". Archived from the original on 13 November 2007. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
  11. ↑ "Rising Kashmir Daily English Newspaper, Latest News of Kashmir, Breaking News of Kashmir, News Update from Kashmir, Kashmir News". Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
  12. ↑ http://naknews.co.in/newsdet.aspx?19888. Retrieved 25 March 2009. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ↑ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Jammu & Kashmir".
  14. ↑ "Mughal Road car rally: A royal voyage for thrill junkies". India Today (1 July 2012). Retrieved 25 August 2012.
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