15-06-2023 : Mehbooba Mufti, the former chief minister and present leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), expressed her dissatisfaction with the lack of advancement in the planned tunnel projects in Jammu and Kashmir. She said that while she was chief minister, Nitin Gadkari, minister of transport and highways, gave her the assurance that several tunnels would be built, including the important Mughal Road Tunnel, the Sadna Tunnel, and the Rajdhani Tunnel. She hasn’t seen any appreciable progress on these projects, though.
Emphasizing the importance of the Mughal Road Tunnel, Mehbooba Mufti highlighted the challenges faced by the valley due to the closure of the only national highway connecting Jammu and the rest of the country. Landslides and adverse weather conditions frequently lead to road closures, causing substantial economic losses. She recalled an incident from last year when many trucks carrying apples were stranded, resulting in significant damage to the economy. The construction of the Mughal Road Tunnel, envisioned by her late father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, is crucial for all-weather connectivity and smooth transportation of goods, especially agricultural produce.
Mehbooba Mufti also stressed the benefits of tunnel projects in connecting regions like Rajouri, Poonch, Razdhan, and Kupwara. These tunnels would ensure year-round connectivity and facilitate convenient travel for the local population. She acknowledged that not everyone can afford air travel and that the majority of people rely on road transportation. Therefore, the construction of these tunnels would not only boost the economy but also improve the lives of the people in these regions.