For Bufliaz residents Mughal road means survival
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Bufliaz (Poonch), June 17
The historic Mughal road may be the shortest link road between the Jammu province and Kashmir, but for residents its timely completion means economic upliftment.

In fact, the 89-km-long under-construction fair weather road (from Bufliaz in Poonch district to Shopian in Kashmir), which is an alternate route to the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway No. 1A (which often remains closed due to avalanches and landslides) means survival for the poverty-stricken people.

“For us, the timely completion of this road means survival. We are poor and can’t live a prosperous life, but if this road is constructed, our fate will definitely change”, said Saleem Khan, an unemployed youth, who has set up a tea stall here after the work on this road started on November 2005. “When the road gets constructed and vehicles start plying on it, business will surely increase”, he added.

Residents, a majority of whom are farmers, said once the road was completed they would be able to sell their produce in Srinagar markets. At present, they have to rely on local traders for selling their produce, who buy their crop at very low rates.

“I grow maize on 20 kanals. The rates per quintal of maize here is very less, but if this road opens I can sell my produce in Kashmir where I can get good rates”, said Wali Muhammad (75), a resident of Buni Khet village, who has 14 members (including two married sons) to support.