Be it tourism or trade the road connectivity continues to be at the centre of difficulties in travel of millions from several parts of the country to Kashmir Valley but yet again the express highway for hassle free travel between Jammu and Srinagar continues to be a distant dream not only for the people of Jammu & Kashmir but also for the people of other states and union territories of the country. While almost half of the work on Jammu-Srinagar highway has been already completed the other half it, i.e, Ramban-Banihal track yet to be completed is as vulnerable to movement of traffic now as it was years back and more so during the peak months of winter and rainy periods in March and April. The frequent shutdowns on Jammu –Srinagar highway do not only disturb the travel of tourists and transportation of apple to several fruit markets of the country but it also hugely disturbs the transportation of essential commodities to Kashmir Valley throughout the year. What matters the most is the fact that the present Ramban-Banihal track being most vulnerable to traffic accidents consumes dozens of lives year after year and the completion of the Ramban-Banihal part of Jammu-Srinagar four lane highway would as such also reduce the rising frequency of accidental deaths on Jammu –Srinagar highway. So the compulsions for fast facing the work on the Ramban-Banihal part of the four lane Jammu-Srinagar highway are by all standards of understandabilities not only very huge but also uncompromising.
“Though the reports about the completion of Udhampur-Baramulla rail link in short time this year is a good omen for travel, tourism , trade and industry in Jammu & Kashmir but without the completion of Jammu -Srinagar highway the developmental journey of Jammu & Kashmir can’t be carried forward with greater intensity”.
The completion of Jammu-Srinagar highway would by all standards of understandabilities not only increase the frequency of travel of the tourists to Kashmir valley now fast changing into an all weather tourist destination and hassle free transportation of essential commodities to Kashmir Valley from different parts of the country but it will surely create a congenial atmosphere for establishing strong trade and business links between Kashmir and country’s major hubs of industry and trade. So largely the completion of four lane Jammu-Srinagar highway would further the prospects of progress and prosperity in Jammu & Kashmir the initiatives and plans for which have been already rolled out by the incumbent Jammu & Kashmir Government. Though the reports about the completion of Udhampur-Baramulla rail link in short time this year is a good omen for travel, tourism , trade and industry in Jammu & Kashmir but without the completion of Jammu -Srinagar highway the developmental journey of Jammu & Kashmir can’t be carried forward with greater intensity.
