Omar Abdullah drives along new Kashmir road link

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday drove through the under-construction Mughal Road that connects the Kashmir Valley to the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch south of the Pir Panchal mountains, and described the journey later as a "dream come true".

The chief minister reached the south of Pir Panchal after covering the 84-km journey, overlooked by snow-capped mountains, in four and a half hours. He announced that the road would be opened in June-July next year.

Driving in his Tata Safari, Omar spoke with his ministers who joined him at Shopian in Kashmir Valley. The ministers, particularly Public Works Minister G.M. Saroori, briefed the chief minister about the progress of the work on the road.

Omar started from Shopian in the Valley late Thursday afternoon in bright sunlight.

The total cost, which was earlier close to Rs.250 crore, has now risen to Rs.692 crore, according to Saroori.

"It was a life-time experience," Omar told newsmen. He said the opening of the road for people on the two sides of the state would be a big breakthrough and "bring the people closer to each other".

The work on the road was started by Omar's grandfather Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, who wanted to connect the two parts of the state divided by the Pir Panchal range of the Himalayas.

The road passes through beautiful locales, which formed part of the Mughal emperors' journey to the Valley. It will work as an alternative to the Jammu-Srinagar national highway for residents of the two districts.

Omar said that the road would boost tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.

He said the mountains along the Mughal Road could be used for skiing. The range is as beautiful as at Pahalgam and Gulmarg.

Omar said the road would be of "great help" to those wishing to pay obeisance at the shrine of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah - a Sufi saint whose mausoleum is located in Shahdhara Sharief in Thanna Mandi area of Rajouri district, 180 km north of Jammu.

Last updated on Nov 26^th, 2009 at 22:48 pm IST--IANS