Demand Intensifies for Year-Round Opening of Mughal Road

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

*Thannamandi residents urge UT and Centre to declare historic route of national importance, ensure all-weather connectivity*

LIAQAT ALI KHATANA

RAJOURI DECM 30:-The long-standing demand to keep the historic Mughal Road open throughout the year has gained renewed momentum, with residents of Thannamandi and adjoining areas urging the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory administration and the Central Government to take immediate and concrete steps for uninterrupted connectivity.
Locals asserted that the Mughal Road is not merely an alternative route but a critical social, economic, and historical lifeline linking the Kashmir Valley with the Rajouri–Poonch belt through the Pir Panjal range. Constructed during the Mughal era, the road remains closed for several months every winter due to heavy snowfall, resulting in widespread hardship for residents of Thannamandi, Surankote, Poonch, Rajouri, and nearby regions.
The prolonged closure severely impacts trade, tourism, and the daily movement of people. Traders and transporters face major losses, while residents are compelled to take longer and costlier alternative routes. Public representatives said the situation hampers regional growth and keeps vast areas cut off during critical months.
Drawing comparisons with strategic projects like the Jawahar Tunnel and Banihal Tunnel, residents and civil society members emphasized that developing the Mughal Road as an all-weather corridor—either through tunnel construction or a robust, modern snow-clearance mechanism—could transform the region’s economic landscape.
Serious concerns were also raised over the impact on essential services. During winter closures, access to healthcare, emergency services, and educational institutions becomes extremely difficult, forcing patients and students to undertake exhausting detours, often at great risk and expense.
The residents have collectively appealed to the government to declare the Mughal Road a road of national importance and allocate dedicated resources for a permanent solution. They believe that year-round connectivity would strengthen inter-regional integration, boost tourism, create employment opportunities, and bring long-awaited relief to the people of the Pir Panjal region.