Zaffar Iqbal Manhas solicits Lt. Governor’s intervention
SRINAGAR, September 7: Apni Party (AP) vice president Zaffar Iqbal Manhas on Monday emphasized on a dire need for opening of Mughal road for passenger vehicular movement in the interest of sustained social and economic benefits which have got worst hit due to the dilapidated condition of Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.
In a statement issued here, Manhas said that Mughal road offers an alternate and efficient regional connectivity which can contribute in overall performance and social functioning of the communities on both sides of this historic road. “Allowing transportation of fresh fruits through this road from valley to other parts of the country is appreciable but barring the people including nomadic families and common passengers to use this road from Pir Panchal towards Valley and the vice versa is highly regrettable,” he remarked.
Manhas said that the partial opening of Mughal road for transportation of fruit produce has helped the fruit growers of the valley immensely and similarly this road should be opened for the general public to redress their sufferings. “There are only a few months left when this road will be closed in the winter. Till then this vital regional connectivity should be opened for the general public amid strict adherence to the COVID protocol and regular weather advisories,” he demanded.
Manhas observed that the 84 kilometers Mughal road provides better connectivity between the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu region with south Kashmir’s Shopian which unfortunately remains closed for traffic for four-five months every year due to accumulation of snow.
“Being a dependable alternative to the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, this historic road should have been a top priority for the Government of India in terms of making it an all weather road for round the year regional connectivity,” he remarked.
The Apni Party vice president said that common people in general and patients from Pir Panchal region in particular face immense problems in availing the tertiary healthcare in Srinagar.
“Not only the closure of the Mughal road has created problems for businessmen, traders, shopkeepers but the patients in critical condition from the far off places of Rajouri and Poonch are subjected to huge inconvenience and forced to travel over 600 kilometers via Jammu to reach super specialty hospitals in Srinagar. I appeal to the Hon’ble Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha and the chief secretary of J&K to personally intervene into the matter and address this humane problem,” he pleaded.
