Jammu, Mar 21: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has demanded that the Centre should declare 84-km long Mughal Road connecting Kashmir with Jammu region as a national highway.
“The state Government has recommended to the Union Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways that the Mughal Road be declared as national highway,” an offi¬cial of State Roads and Buildings ministry said.
After it is declared as national highway, the matter for construction of tunnel from Zaznar to Chatapani will be taken up with the Centre, the official said.
The Mughal Road con¬nects Kashmir region’s Shopi¬an area with Jammu’s Poonch district. The work on the road was sanctioned for 84 kms in February 2006 with original estimate at Rs 159 crore. However, the revised cost of the project has been estimated at Rs 639.85 crore.
As per the recent report submitted by the Union Home Ministry, 60.20% work on the road has been completed and remaining is under progress.
Left out works of 7 major bridges has been awarded to M/s SP Singla Constructions and the road is now expected to be completed in 2012-13.
The state Government, meanwhile, is also contem¬plating to extend the road upto Nowshera, Rajouri, by connecting the historical routs of the Mughal Road.
As per officials, Mughals used to come from Lahore and used to enter from Jhanger at present in Nowshera constituency of Rajouri district. The emperors used to follows the route via Jhanger-Qila-Darhal-Nowshera-Chingus leading to Rajouri.
The state Government recently informed the Legisla¬tive Council that there are traces of Mughal route near Siot and Bhambla suggesting that this also in some way was being used by Mughals.
“There are significant available traces of different constructions of Mughal period particularly among them is a fort in Qila Darhal, another fort in Nowshera town and Chingus,” official sources revealed.
They said that the project has not been, however, undertaken by the Government as of now. “The entire route needs detailed study and also preparation of techno-economic feasibility report,” they said adding, “The matter could be examined after the approved Mughal Road project is completed.”
(With inputs from PTI)

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