Minister for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Law and Justice, Abdul Haq, today said that State Government is pursuing vigorously the matter of declaring Mughal road as National Highway with Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India.
While replying to a question of Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, the Minister said the Government is also pursuing construction of a tunnel from Chattapani to Zaznar to make Mughal road as an all-weather road.
He said the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has already raised the issue of construction of the tunnel with Union Government. He further said that the road is a prestigious project and a priority for the Government.
The Minister said the Mughal road connecting Poonch and Rajouri districts with Shopian in Kashmir province is 84 km long double-lane black top road. He, however, said due to heavy snowfall and landslides some stretches of the road have been damaged and are being repaired by the BEACON authorities.
Vibodh Gupta and Sajjad Kitchloo raised supplementaries to the main question.