Mughal Road gets tunnel, Omar Abdullah says ‘major achievement of my govt’ | India News

SRINAGAR: The Union government’s approval on Monday of 19 major road and tunnel projects worth Rs 10,637 crore, including a key tunnel on the historical Mughal Road linking Shopian, in the Kashmir Valley, with Poonch in Jammu, has caused widespread excitement across Kashmir.The proposed Peer Ki Gali tunnel, which will turn the 84-km Mughal Road into an all-weather road providing a crucial alternative to the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, has excited political leaders across the board. “It is a major achievement of my government,” Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said.Construction of a modern road on the old Mughal Road began in the 1970s, during the government of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, but the project saw little progress. It was revived in 2003 under Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s government, and by 2009 traffic was allowed during the tenure of Omar Abdullah. Though the road is now operational, it remains open only during summer as heavy snowfall on the key stretches of Peer Ki Gali and Bafliaz forces its closure in winter.Over the past eight months the National Conference government has been pushing for the tunnel project on the Mughal Road. “We have been working hard on this and held several rounds of discussions with government of India, particularly the ministry of road transport and highways. Finally, these major projects have been sanctioned,” CM Omar Abdullah told TOI. “The tunnel on the Mughal Road is of crucial importance as it will provide year-round connectivity between Kashmir and Jammu. It holds both strategic and commercial value.”Omar said that ever since he first drove on the Mughal Road in 2009, his party and his government have been advocating for construction of a tunnel. “We’ve been pursuing this for years, and I am glad it has finally received approval,” he said.Among the sanctioned projects is also the Sadhana Tunnel, which will connect Kupwara with the border region of Karnah, at an estimated cost of Rs 3,330 crore. Omar said he will also pursue a tunnel project for Gurez Valley in north Kashmir and intends to raise the matter with the Union government.The Mughal Road also holds historical significance. It was used by Mughal emperors in the 16th century to enter Kashmir. Emperor Akbar took this route to conquer the region in 1586, and his son, Jahangir, is believed to have died near Rajouri while returning from Kashmir.In a separate statement issued in Srinagar, both LG Manoj Sinha and Omar thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari for approving these major projects.National Conference was quick to take credit, stating that “under the leadership of J&K CM Omar Abdullah our government has successfully convinced government of India to take up key infrastructure projects like the Mughal Road tunnel and the tunnel to Tangdhar.”A senior NC politician said the projects were sanctioned because J&K’s elected government pursued them with the Union government.