Residents living on both sides of the Pir Panjal range have urged the government to expedite work on the proposed Mughal Road tunnel, saying the road’s prolonged winter closure cuts off communities, disrupts trade and forces people to take a much longer route between south Kashmir and the Jammu region.
The 84-km Shopian-Poonch Mughal Road, opened to vehicular traffic in 2009, remains vulnerable to heavy snowfall at the Pir Ki Gali pass. Residents said the road typically remains closed for around five months during winter, leaving people dependent on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway for travel between the two regions.
“The road closure affects trade as well as the movement of people and goods from both sides of the Pir Panjal. The delay in taking the tunnel project forward is making people suffer,” said Mitha Gatoo, a civil society member.
Gatoo said students and residents from Rajouri and adjoining areas often have to travel via the much longer Jammu-Srinagar route during winter, increasing both travel time and costs.
The proposed tunnel is expected to provide an all-weather alternative to the existing road and strengthen direct connectivity between south Kashmir and the Pir Panjal region.
The demand has gained urgency as the government works on the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project. During the Budget session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, the government said tenders for the proposed Mughal Road Tunnel, also referred to as the Pir Ki Gali Tunnel, would be invited only after the DPR is approved and the required statutory clearances are obtained.
The government said the alignment proposed by DPR consultant SMEC (India) Pvt. Ltd. was discussed with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on January 21, 2026.
An official said the DPR is currently under preparation.
Residents said the prolonged process was also affecting businesses dependent on traffic along the road.
Javed Ahmad, a trader from Shopian, said shops in Heerpora, the last major habitation on the Kashmir side of the road, see little or no business during winter after the route closes.
“Once the road is shut, there is hardly any movement and many shopkeepers have to close their businesses during the winter months. The tunnel would allow people and goods to move throughout the year,” Ahmad said.
For residents of Rajouri, the closure means losing a relatively direct connection with south Kashmir for several months.
Mohammad Aslam, a resident of Rajouri, said an all-weather tunnel would make travel between the two regions easier and reduce dependence on the longer Jammu route during winter.
The proposed Mughal Road tunnel is estimated to cost around ₹3,830 crore. The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) had earlier entrusted the preparation of the DPR for upgrading the road to Rodic Consultants Pvt. Ltd. in association with Spain-based Getinsa-Euroestudios.
Residents said completing the tunnel would have benefits beyond travel, including more reliable movement of agricultural produce, access to markets, education and essential services.
