Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Jan 14: The Governments of India and Pakistan are contemplating to open Nowshera-Jhangar-Mirpur cross LoC point in district Rajouri for trade and travel like Chakkan-da-Bagh in district Poonch shortly.
Highly placed sources in the Government here told the Excelsior that on the directions of the Union Home Ministry, the J&K Government has started the survey to identify the most feasible route in district Rajouri to facilitate the people living on both the sides of the Line of Control in this belt. Nowshera-Jhangar-Mirpur road, also known as the traditional route, is likely to become the final choice.
The families from Jammu, Rajouri and parts of Reasi who intend to visit PoK to see their relatives on that side, are made to go to Poonch first and then to Chakkan-da-Bagh to reach Hajira or Rawalakote in PoK for their further journey to Mirpur, Kotli or Muzaffarabad. The Poonch LoC point is far away from their native places. By opening this new route for the trade and travel, the people from these three-four districts and also the traders from Jammu and Rajouri on this side and Mirpur and Kotli on that side will be benefitted in big way.
Sources further said that after the recent visit of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Pakistan, this development has happened. After the fresh directions from the Union Government, the Home Ministry asked the team of officers from Rajouri led by Deputy commissioner Shabir Ahmed Bhat to conduct extensive survey of Nowshera-Mirpur cross-LoC route and also explore possibility of any other better route in the district connecting Mirpur in PoK. Mirpur is nearly 35 kms from Jhangar while the distance between Jhangar and Nowshera is hardly 18 kms.
The two other cross LoC routes on which the survey has been conducted by the team from District Administration Rajouri are, Lam to Pukharni up to LoC and then to Khuretta (PoK) and then to Mirpur city and second from Jhangar to Sariya (at LoC) and then to Khuretta and to Mirpur (PoK).
Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Shabir Ahmed Bhat when contacted told the Excelsior that Government of India has sought comments about the feasibility of this Nowshera-Jhangar-Mirpur cross LoC route connecting both sides of the divided Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Bhat said that Jhangar-Mirpur is said to be the traditional route.
Replying to a question, the DC said that road condition from Nowshera to Jhangar which is nearly 18 kms, is good. The LoC is nearly 28 kms from Nowshera town. There is need to improve old existing road from Jhangar to LoC point which may be around 9-10 kms in distance. He said that decisions to open this route will provide massive benefit to the people visiting to PoK from Rajouri, Reasi and Jammu areas.
“The decision in this regard will be taken at the highest level in New Delhi. We are just asked to send comments after conducting survey of the route. The task has been completed and the report will be submitted within couple of days,” Bhat maintained.
It is pertinent to mention here that another cross LoC point from Tatapani in Mendhar ( Poonch) to PoK remained operational for about two and half months but it was later closed because of the bad condition of road and less number of visitors using that route. The people from Mendhar and Balakote areas were then shifted to Chakkan-da-Bagh route.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel