The Mughal Road, which links Kashmir Valley with Rajouri and Poonch areas in Jammu, is likely to be thrown open for traffic on Sunday.
The 84-kilometre road remains closed for almost six months ayear due to snow.
“The deadline for re-opening of the road is today,”Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan told Greater Kashmir. “Weare hopeful that in a day or two the road will be thrown open for traffic.”
Currently, the two-day traffic ban on the Srinagar-JammuNational Highway, besides inclement weather that leads to its frequent closure,has caused shortage of supplies in the Valley. An open Mughal Road is likely toease the situation.
Official sources said that this year the snow clearance wasdelayed on the strategically important Mughal Road because it does not have itsown mechanical division.
“The snow clearance on the road was once again delayed thisyear due to the lack of men and machinery,” an official said and added that theroad used to reopen in April but this year snow clearance operation itselfstarted in April.
Also, much time was spent in clearing about 20 avalanches. Asingle avalanche is said to have been cleared in a week.
The Mughal Road passes through the Pir Panchal mountainrange at an altitude of 3,500 meters (11,500 ft), higher than the Banihal passat 2,832 meters. The road has reduced the distance between Shopian town inKashmir and Poonch in Jammu region from 588 to 126 kilometers.
Valley businessmen who do business with Poonch and Rajourisay the prolonged closure has hit their businesses. They have been demandingconstruction of a tunnel that would make possible all-weather connectivity oradequate snow clearance measures.