Srinagar,November 26 (Vijay Kumar) –Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister said that Mughal Road was the dream of his grandfather Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah to re-link Poonch-Rajouri with Srinagar via Shopian through this historical route which was the most favourite route during Mughal period and subsequently.
Speaking at a mammoth gathering at Dobjan in South Kashmir, Omar said that no doubt foundation stone was laid couples of years before but during the regime of former Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, the work was expedited and since he took over he personally supervised its progress round the clock. He said that it was not possible without the support of Central Government that this dream project could have been taken off. He personally expressed his thanks to UPA Chairperson, s. Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, who took keen interest and provided Rs 670 crore for completion of this road. He said today he deliberately came to have first drive on this road along with R&B Minister and other officers and media to ensure that this road is now formally opened for the general public from June next. He said the road requires further upgradation and final macadamization so that general public is able to conveniently drive on this road.
He said that he was happy to observe extra ordinary enthusiasm and jubilance of the people, who had assembled in large numbers to witness the first drive on this road. He said it indicates that entire people of J&K are keen and have emotional attachment with Mughal road hoping that the road is opened as soon as possible.
Today history was revived when after centuries the Shopian-Poonch-Rajouri road link was personally inspected by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah along with hundreds of media personalities from Jammu and Kashmir. He drove his vehicle right from his residence to Shopian and from Shopian to Dobjan. At Dobjan thousands of people greeted Chief Minister who was accompanied by Minister for R&B G.M. Saroori, Political Advisor to Chief Minister, Devender Rana, Director General Police, Kuldeep Khoda, Commissioner/Secretary R&B, Mehboob Iqbal, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Ms. Naseem Lanker, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir and other higher authorities.
Provincial President National Conference, Ali Mohammed Dar also spoke on the occasion and said that the people are very happy for opening of this vital road link.
The Chief Minister said that he has found that Dobjan as well as adjoining areas have great tourism potential as attractive and captivating as Gulmarg , Pahalgam and Sonamarg tourist resorts. He said that there is great scope to revive snow-skiing on the hill slopes which are ideal for the purpose. He said that this road will not only boost development of the area from Shopian, Poonch and Rajouri but will also help the students avail facilities of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University and Vice versa as within four hours distance can be travelled which hitherto normally would take two days to travel. He said this road will also help the people of Kashmir to visit Shadra-Sharief Shrine and people of Rajouri and Poonch worthy shrines of Kashmir.
Omar said that for every State Inter-regional roads play very vital role in boosting the economy and developmental activities. He said it was decades ago together the people were eagerly waiting for this vital linkage.
The Chief Minister said today he seems itself fully satisfied with the fact that the road has been constructed and links between two important regions and districts have been established. He said that he has already instructed the authorities of Mughal road project to expedite the work. He complimented Saroori, who has taken keen interest in supervising execution of this road. He said he is confident that all finishing touch will be given to this road project by June. He said this road will be an alternate route to National Highway. He said that in the first phase it will be a double lane but project envisages it to be a four-lane road so that it is able to cater full rush round the year in future.
Speaking on the occasion, Saroori said that R&B is working on fast-track basis to construct all major and minor roads throughout the State and ensure completion of all projects under execution within scheduled time-frame. He said Mughal road was one of the ambitious and magnificent project of the State and Central Government’s decision to fully fund this project has enable us to reach this successful stage when after centuries the link was opened today for historical drive. He said that it was his keen interest of s. Sonia Gandhi and Dr. Manmohan Singh that this project was fully constructed. He also praised Ghulam Nabi Azad for his keen interest in intensifying the work on the project because of which the most dangerous passes on the road were cleared and road was construct.
From Dubjan, Chief Minister along with Ministers and media in hundreds of vehicles proceeded towards historical Mughal Sarai. The Mughal Sarai, which was the way side shelter centuries earlier was existing with the same glory on the side of the Mughal road. He came down from his vehicle and stopped at Mughal Sarai alongwith the team and asked execution agencies to immediately form a project for development of this sarai.