Jammu and Kashmir connection road to open on Sunday

Jammu, May 3 (IANS) The historic Mughal Road, which connects the Jammu region with Kashmir valley, will be opened for one-way traffic on Sunday after remaining closed for over five months, a state government official said.

 "Traffic will be allowed on the Mughal Road from Jammu to Srinagar today (Sunday)," the official told IANS in the winter capital of Jammu on Sunday.

"The road will also remain open for traffic from Jammu to Srinagar tomorrow (Monday) and on Tuesday…one-way traffic will move from Srinagar to Jammu."

Connecting the Jammu region of the state with the valley through Poonch, Rajouri and Shopian districts, the road was originally built by the Mughal emperors.

Mughal emperor Akbar invaded and conquered Kashmir in 1586 using this route.

For centuries the road remained close, but it was rebuilt in 2005 as a connection road between the landlocked valley and rest of the regions of India.

During the months of winter heavy snowfall forces closure of the road link.