The Magam–Surankot Highway as a Case Study in Himalayan Infrastructure Development

Introduction

Kashmir is primarily connected to Jammu through NH-44, commonly referred to as the Srinagar–Jammu highway, which serves as the region’s economic and logistical lifeline. The movement of goods and people between Kashmir and the rest of the country is predominantly dependent on this single route. Such reliance often disrupts the lives of traders, travellers, and ordinary citizens, particularly during periods of heavy snowfall, landslides, traffic congestion, or road accidents, incidents that frequently make headlines. This persistent vulnerability underscores the pressing need for alternative transportation corridors in Jammu and Kashmir. Despite this longstanding requirement, successive governments have struggled to realise such projects.

In recent years, proposals for an alternative route have gained traction, envisioning a corridor connecting Kashmir and Jammu through strategically significant areas such as Budgam, Shopian, and Poonch. An earlier plan proposed constructing a roadway that traverses the upper reaches of Tosamaidan, Doodhpathri, and Yousmarg, leading to Pir Ki Gali. However, experts strongly opposed this proposal, citing its ecological unsustainability, as the alignment would have passed close to several major glaciers and ecologically fragile high-altitude zones. In response to these concerns, the administration has shifted its focus toward a comparatively less damaging approach: strengthening existing road networks through widening and macadamization. This revised plan aims to integrate urban centres with remote regions, thereby reducing the spatial and social divide created by the formidable Pir Panjal ranges.

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