Mughal Road
{{Short description|Road in Jammu and Kashmir, India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{infobox road
| country = IND
| name = Mughal Road
| image = Alibaad sarai.jpg
| image_notes = Aliabad Sarai, a halting point on old Mughal road
| length_km = 80
| map = {{Maplink|frame=yes|frame-width=290|frame-height=300|frame-align=center|type=line|stroke-width=3|zoom=9
| id= Q4299240|title=Mughal Road|text= Map of Mughal Road in red }}
| map_custom = yes
| direction_a = East
| terminus_a = Shopian, Shopian district
| destinations=
| direction_b = West
| terminus_b = Bufliaz, Poonch district
| junction =
| length_notes=
| states = Jammu and Kashmir
}}
File:Peer_Ki_Gali_Mughal_Road_Poonch_Srinagar.jpg.]]
Mughal Road is the road between Bufliaz, a town in the Poonch district, to the Shopian district, in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The 84-kilometre roadhttp://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=6_12_2008&ItemID=35&cat=1 {{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} traces a historic route used in the Mughal period over the Pir Panjal Pass, at an altitude of {{cvt|3,500|m}}, higher than the Banihal pass at {{cvt|2,832|m}}.{{Cite web
|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/Mughal-Road-to-be-ready-this-year/article15189561.ece
|title=Mughal Road to be ready this year
|author=Luv Puri
|work=The Hindu
|date=23 March 2008
|access-date=18 February 2019}}
The road connects Poonch and Rajouri to Srinagar in the Kashmir valley, and reduces the distance between Shopian and Poonch from 588 km to 126 km.{{cite web |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-03-24/india/27768468_1_jammu-srinagar-highway-mughal-road-alternative-road |title=Mughal Road: A blast from the past |website=The Times of India |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022141103/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-03-24/india/27768468_1_jammu-srinagar-highway-mughal-road-alternative-road |archive-date=22 October 2012 |url-status=dead}} It also provides an alternative route into the Kashmir valley off the Jammu–Srinagar highway.{{cite web |url=http://pulwama.gov.in/mughal_road.htm |title=Mughal Road |access-date=2008-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120210624/http://pulwama.gov.in/mughal_road.htm |archive-date=20 November 2008}} The road passes through Buffliaz, Behramgalla, Chandimarh, Dogray (Dogran), Godawan, Poshana, Chattapani, Peer Ki Gali, Aliabad, Zaznar, Dubjian, Hirpora, and Shopian.
History
A route linking Hirapur (modern Hirpora) in the Kashmir Valley with Poonch via the Pir Panjal Pass (Peer Ki Gali) has been used from ancient times. During the period of the sultans, it was extended to Bhimber. Historian Mohibbul Hasan says it played an important role during this period.{{citation |last=Hasan |first=Mohibbul |title=Kashmir under the Sultans |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EUlwmXjE9DQC |year=1959 |publisher=Aakar Books |isbn=978-81-87879-49-7 |ref={{sfnref|Hasan, Kashmir under the Sultans|1959}}}}{{rp|23–24}}
After conquering the Kashmir Valley, the emperor Akbar strengthened the route into an 'Imperial Road' stretching from Lahore to Kashmir.{{rp|24}} In modern times, the route has been referred to as the 'Mughal Road'.{{Cite web
|url=http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/archives/archives2005/kashmir20050714b.html
|title=Now, Mughal Road To Connect J&K
|work=The Times of India
|date=14 July 2005}}
The route has also been traditionally used by the nomadic pastoral communities of Gujjars and Bakerwals for their seasonal migration.
Naseer Ganai, [https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/nomads-gujjars-bakerwals-kashmir-valley-shivalik-pirpanchal-trikuta-hills-252428-2015-05-12 Nomadic Gujjars back on migration trail in Kashmir Valley], India Today, 12 May 2015.
Construction
The new road was proposed in the 1950s to improve the economy of the Kashmir valley. The then chief minister Sheikh Abdullah took up this project in 1979 and named it the 'Mughal Road', but it came to a halt as terrorism took over. Bafliaz Bridge on the road was blown up by the terrorists.{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/99dec17/state.htm |title=Daily Excelsior.........State |access-date=2008-12-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120140554/http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/99dec17/state.htm |archive-date=20 November 2008}}
Actual construction began in October 2005 with a target of completion in March 2007 and an estimated cost of 255 crore rupees.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070903/j&k.htm#2|title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Jammu & Kashmir}} A conservation trust petitioned the Supreme Court to stop construction, citing the disturbance to animals in the Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary, especially the endangered Markhor goat;{{cite web |url=http://www.downtoearth.org.in/full6.asp?foldername=20071015&filename=news&sec_id=50&sid=35 |title=Controversy over J&K; government's plan to revive Mughal road | Features | Down to Earth magazine |access-date=2008-12-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113172524/http://www.downtoearth.org.in/full6.asp?foldername=20071015&filename=news&sec_id=50&sid=35 |archive-date=13 November 2007}} and claiming the road would get early snowfall in winter and hence would not serve as an alternate route to the existing Jammu-Srinagar highway. However, the court gave conditional permission for the construction of the road.
The construction due to be completed in December 2008,{{cite web |url=http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8882&Itemid=1 |title=Rising Kashmir Daily English Newspaper, Latest News of Kashmir, Breaking News of Kashmir, News Update from Kashmir, Kashmir News |access-date=2008-12-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715190245/http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8882&Itemid=1 |archive-date=15 July 2011}} was delayed for a number of reasons, including the Amar Nath land row. The road was opened on 12 July 2009 for inspection by state legislators, officials, engineers, and others. It was supposed to be thrown open for light vehicles in October 2010 but the law-and-order situation in Kashmir in 2010 imposed delays.{{cite web |url=http://naknews.co.in/newsdet.aspx?19888 |access-date=2009-03-25 |title=Archived copy |archive-date=21 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721154306/http://naknews.co.in/newsdet.aspx?19888 |url-status=dead }} A double-lane road was completed and opened for light vehicles in August 2012.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090325/j&k.htm#5|title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Jammu & Kashmir}}
A Mughal Road Car Rally has been held annually since 2010.{{Cite journal |title=Mughal Road car rally: A royal voyage for thrill junkies|journal=India Today|date=July 2012 |issue=1 July 2012|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mughal-road-car-rally-royal-spring-golf-course-kashmir-tourism/1/203276.html|access-date=25 August 2012 }} It covers 600 km, including the picturesque stretch across Pir Panjal.
Nitin Gadkari said to start Work on Mughal road tunnel for better connectivity from Shopian to Poonch.{{Cite web |title=Work on Mughal road tunnel to start soon: Nitin Gadkari|url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/work-on-mughal-road-tunnel-to-start-soon-nitin-gadkari/}}