This year it snowed at the right time. Kashmir had almost forgotten a snowfall in the coldest patch of the winter period commonly known as Chile Kalan – the great chill. With the second snowfall in the month of January we were again reminded of the harsh things that winters would bring to us. The failing electricity, affected water supply, shortage of commodities, and slippery streets. We were also reminded of how our roads that lead to the peripheries of the Kashmir valley or move out into the adjacent provinces got closed because of the snowfall. Thanks to the upgraded machinery, roads these days can be opened at a faster pace than years back. Nevertheless the movement of traffic is still considerably affected. Since the contacts across regions have increased manifold the affects of closure are accordingly accrued. Roads getting blocked for even smaller durations means that the volume of unease is very high. Keeping this thing in mind it is a looming imperative that the roads are kept open for all the months of the year and all the days of each month. That means no blockades. But the kind of terrain that these roads pass through and the way weather acts on these terrains doesn’t grant this wish of ours. So it has to be an extraordinary effort if the connections between different provinces and regions of this state have to remain immune to weather changes. One way of doing it is to have an air traffic established between these regions to a volume that can absorb the rush borne by the ground traffic. This is simply an outlandish proposition. Air traffic has its limitations and it can be used only within those limitations. So the option that remains with us is to have underground tunnels on those spots that give maximum trouble. Once that is materialized rest of the length of roads can be managed easily by employing timely clearance equipment. We have all experienced how the Banihal pass could be won over by digging a tunnel through it. Similarly if we have tunnels dug through the main passes surrounding Kashmir valley we can achieve all weather connectivity. It was thus very heartening to hear from the concerned agency that the possibility of tunneling the various passes – Sdadhna, Zojila, Razdan and Farkian Gali – is being studied. If goes without saying that how important the road connectivity is for any region’s development. If tunnels are really constructed through various passes it can connect the regions and the people in this state which can have a positive impact on our society and commerce. Now the important question is this; the connectivity between various areas of the state of Jammu and Kashmir is not confined to the digging up of some tunnels through well known passes. The debate and the government contemplation on this subject should widen up to accommodate more concerns. The network of roads in our state is wanting in many respects. One, the width of roads has become a festering problem. Two, the condition of the road surface is a perennial  predicament. Three, there are many areas that can be connected through multiple roads but we have just one connection. Fourth, there are road connections of past that need to be revived if the various prominent regions of J&K are really to get connected. Not only Mughal Road and Sinthan pass, there can be many such road connects, bringing people together. If government is really serious about this need of people it should constitute a committee that prepares a detailed report on the possibility of road connections in the state. Professional help can be sought from various agencies within and outside India to make this document a guiding paper for all the endevours that are made in this direction.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 18 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 IST