KANGRA, May 21:
The Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) has embarked upon an ambitious project to revive the ancient alternative route that connected Srinagar (Kashmir) with the rest of the country and which passes through Pathankot, Jammu and Udhampur, the university announced on Thursday.
Prof Kuldip Chand Agnihotri Vice Chancellor CUHP on Thursday said that at the moment the only land route to enter Jammu & Kashmir is via Pathankot. But there is another alternative route, which the former Maharaja of J&K Mahraja Hari Singh wanted to develop as a national highway.
He said that originating from Una this route goes to Chintapurni, Baglamukhi, Jwalamukhi, Kangra, Nurpur, Bhalai Mata en route to Chamba, Sungla, Saluni, Langera, Fadhri and joins Bhaderwah in Doda district of J&K. From Bhaderwah the road reaches Srinagar via Batot Ramban, Banihal and Anantnag.
“It is almost 452 km long from Una to Srinagar, but 50 kms less than present NH1. At the moment only the Pathankot route is used for both passengers and goods transportation. If developed, the new route will reduce the burden on the Pathankot route. Since Ladakh and J&K touch the international borders, it is also strategically important to develop new route connecting the region. Hence, efforts to build this new route should be taken up by the state and the central Governments, the Vice Chancellor suggested.
He said that CUHP has started educating the masses and the officials concerned in this regard. He said, “We want that the bus service from Saluni to Bhaderwah should be started immediately. In this way, we can develop it as a new pilgrimage route to Bhaderwah, which has the famous and historical Vasukinag Temple.”
Department of Tourism in the CUHP sent a group of students to Vasukinag Temple through this new route and this year the university has dedicated its annual calendar for the year 2020-21 to this theme only. This route if revived, will not only open new avenues of tourism and employment in HP, but will also help to develop a new pilgrimage route to connect half a dozen famous temples including the Sharada Peeth and Shankarcharya temple in Srinagar.
This route will culturally reconnect the entire country with HP and Kashmir, the VC said. (UNI)
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