Mughal road project delayed
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Poonch, September 14
Work on the Mughal road project, the shortest alternative link between Jammu and Kashmir provinces, may be delayed by more than one-and-a-half years.

The 84-km Mughal road from Shopian in Kashmir to Bufliaz in Poonch, which was to be completed by March, 2009, was likely to be completed by December, 2010.

Sources said there were various reasons for the delay in completion of this project.

First, work on the road was stopped beyond Hirpora for almost two working seasons (March, 2006, to July, 2007) because of the presence of a wildlife sanctuary.

It was only after the Supreme Court gave approval for constructing the road that work was started beyond Hirpora.

Secondly, work couldn’t be carried out from December, 2007, to April because of inclement weather.

Thirdly, the recent Jammu agitation, which continued for almost two months, also affected the work since machinery couldn’t function due to non-availability of fuel.

Moreover, there was delay in felling of forest trees beyond Chattapani since the department couldn’t get the requisite administrative approval due to the agitation.

The department got the approval on September 5 only after things became normal.

Abdul Rasheed Dar, superintendent engineer, Mughal road project, said now that hurdles in the completion of this road project had been crossed, it was likely to get completed by December, 2010.