imported>Zeex.rice: Changing short description from "road in Jammu and Kashmir, India" to "Road in Jammu and Kashmir, India" (Shortdesc helper)

2021-04-27T22:17:54Z

Changing short description from "road in Jammu and Kashmir, India" to "Road in Jammu and Kashmir, India" (Shortdesc helper)

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{{Short description|Road in Jammu and Kashmir, India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{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, India|Poonch district]]
| junction =
| length_notes=
| states = [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
}}
[[File:Peer_Ki_Gali_Mughal_Road_Poonch_Srinagar.jpg|thumb|right|The Mughal Road crosses the [[Pir Panjal Pass]].]]

'''Mughal Road''' is the road between [[Bufliaz]], a town in the [[Poonch district, India|Poonch district]], to the [[Shopian district]], in the union territory of [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[India]]. The 84-kilometre road<ref name="full story">[http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=6_12_2008&ItemID=35&cat=1]{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> 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}}.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

The road connects [[Poonch (town)|Poonch]] and [[Rajouri]] to [[Srinagar]] in the Kashmir valley, and reduces the distance between Shopian and Poonch from 588 km to 126 km.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121022141103/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-03-24/india/27768468_1_jammu-srinagar-highway-mughal-road-alternative-road]</ref> It also provides an alternative route into the Kashmir valley off the [[Jammu-Srinagar National Highway|Jammu-Srinagar highway]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pulwama.gov.in/mughal_road.htm |title=Archived copy |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}}</ref> The road passes through Buffliaz, Behramgalla, [[Chandimarh]], Poshana, Chattapani, [[Peer Ki Gali]], Aliabad, Zaznar, Dubjan, [[Hirpora]], and Shopian.

== History ==
A route linking [[Hirpora|Hirapur]] (modern Hirpora) in the Kashmir Valley with [[Rajauri]] via the [[Pir Panjal Pass]] (Peer Ki Gali) has been used from ancient times. During the period of the [[Shah Mir dynasty|sultans]], it was extended to [[Bhimber]]. Historian Mohibbul Hasan says it played an important role during this period.<ref name=Hasan>{{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}}}}</ref>{{rp|23–24}}

After conquering the Kashmir Valley, the emperor [[Akbar]] strengthened the route into an "Imperial Road" stretching from [[Lahore]] to Kashmir.<ref name=Hasan />{{rp|24}} In modern times, the route has been referred to as the "Mughal Road".<ref>{{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}}</ref>

== Construction ==
The new road was proposed in the 1950s to improve the economy of the Kashmir valley. Then Chief Minister [[Sheikh Abdullah]] took up this project in 1979 and named it the "'''Mughal Road'''", but it came to a halt as [[Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir|terrorism]] took over. Bafliaz Bridge on the road was blown up by the terrorists.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/99dec17/state.htm |title=Archived copy |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}}</ref>

Actual construction began in October 2005 with a target of completion in March 2007 and an estimated cost of 255 crore rupees.<ref name="tribune">[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070903/j&k.htm#2]</ref> A conservation trust petitioned the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] to stop construction, citing the disturbance to animals in the [[Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary]], especially the endangered [[Markhor|Markhor goat]];<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.downtoearth.org.in/full6.asp?foldername=20071015&filename=news&sec_id=50&sid=35 |title=Archived copy |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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="tribune"/>

Construction was to be completed in December 2008,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8882&Itemid=1 |title=Archived copy |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}}</ref> but was delayed for a number of reasons, including the [[Amarnath land transfer controversy|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.<ref name="full story"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://naknews.co.in/newsdet.aspx?19888 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-03-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721154306/http://naknews.co.in/newsdet.aspx?19888 |archive-date=21 July 2011}}</ref> A double-lane road was completed and opened for light vehicles in August 2012.<ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090325/j&k.htm#5]</ref>

A Mughal Road Car Rally has been held annually since 2010.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Mughal Road car rally: A royal voyage for thrill junkies|journal=India Today|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 }}</ref> It covers 600 km, including the picturesque stretch across Pir Panjal.

==See also==
* [[Aharbal]]
* [[Shopian]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Jammu and Kashmir topics}}

[[Category:Roads in Jammu and Kashmir]]

Mughal Road - Revision history

imported>Zeex.rice: Changing short description from "road in Jammu and Kashmir, India" to "Road in Jammu and Kashmir, India" (Shortdesc helper)