As I navigated the bone-rattling detour from Jammu to Srinagar on April 20, 2025, forced to traverse the crumbling roads of Rajouri and Thanamandi due to the closure of National Highway 44 (NH-44) following flash floods in Ramban, the stark reality of neglect in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pir Panjal region came into sharp focus. The journey, meant to connect the bustling capital of Jammu to the serene Kashmir Valley, was a grueling testament to the failure of infrastructure development in Rajouri and Poonch. These twin border districts, represented by seven Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and part of the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat, now fall under the stewardship of the National Conference (NC) and its Congress ally, who collectively dominate the region’s political landscape. With an NC Member of Parliament (MP) and six of the seven MLAs from the NC-Congress alliance, the onus lies squarely on them to transform the deplorable roads—particularly from Jammu to Rajouri and Rajouri to Thanamandi—into a viable alternative to NH-44, ensuring connectivity and dignity for the people of this strategically vital region.
A Region Under New Leadership
The Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat, which includes Rajouri and Poonch, is now represented by Mian Altaf Ahmad of the National Conference, who defeated the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti in the 2024 elections. This victory marked a shift from the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) decade-long hold on the region under Jugal Kishore Sharma, who represented the erstwhile Jammu-Poonch constituency. In the 2024 assembly elections, the NC-Congress alliance swept six of the seven seats in Rajouri and Poonch: Surankote, Mendhar, Poonch Haveli, Nowshera, Darhal, and Rajouri. The lone exception, Kalakote-Sunderbani, went to the BJP. This overwhelming mandate places the responsibility of addressing the region’s chronic infrastructure woes firmly on the NC-led government under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and its coalition partner, Congress.
The roads from Jammu to Rajouri and Rajouri to Thanamandi are a glaring symbol of neglect. Narrow, potholed, and prone to erosion, they are ill-equipped to serve as an alternative to NH-44, which remains the lifeline of Jammu and Kashmir. The closure of NH-44 at Ramban, where landslides and flash floods have disrupted traffic for days, has exposed the fragility of the region’s connectivity. The Mughal Road, connecting Rajouri and Poonch to Shopian in south Kashmir, has become a critical detour since its reopening on April 15, 2025, after months of snow closure. Yet, its single-lane stretches, particularly between Chatta Pani and Peer Ki Gali, and heavy congestion in Thanamandi and Surankote, render it inadequate for the volume of traffic diverted from NH-44.[
The Gujjar Community: A Call for Action
The Gujjar and Bakerwal communities, constituting 36% of Rajouri and Poonch’s population, are central to the region’s socio-political fabric. As a significant electoral force, they have historically shaped the Pir Panjal’s politics, with the NC and Congress leveraging their support in 2024 to secure six assembly seats. The NC’s outreach to Gujjars, emphasizing development and reservation benefits, resonated strongly, unlike the BJP’s divisive strategy of granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Pahari-speaking population in 2023, which sparked protests among Gujjars fearing dilution of their quotas. The NC’s promise to safeguard Gujjar interests, articulated by Omar Abdullah during the campaign, now faces a litmus test in delivering tangible infrastructure improvements.
The deplorable road conditions disproportionately affect the Gujjars, many of whom rely on these routes for their pastoral lifestyle, transporting livestock and accessing markets. The NC-Congress government must prioritize the ₹5,100-crore Jammu-Poonch National Highway project, initiated years ago but plagued by delays. Recent inspections by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on January 10, 2025, highlighted ongoing work on the Rajouri-Thanamandi-Surankote road and National Highway 144A (Rajouri-Poonch), but issues like land acquisition and forest clearance continue to stall progress. The NC, with its legislative dominance and parliamentary representation, must expedite these clearances and ensure timely execution to make these roads a robust alternative to NH-44.
The Mughal Road: A Lifeline in Limbo
The Mughal Road’s reopening has provided temporary relief to stranded travelers and supply chains disrupted by NH-44’s closure. However, its limitations—narrow stretches, susceptibility to landslides, and lack of all-weather infrastructure—underscore the need for urgent upgrades. The NC government has long advocated for a tunnel to make the Mughal Road an all-weather route, a demand echoed by the Apni Party and local stakeholders. The Centre’s 2023 announcement of such a project remains unimplemented, and the NC, now in power, must push for its realization. With six MLAs and an MP from the region, the NC-Congress alliance has the political clout to lobby for central funding and BRO support to transform the Mughal Road into a reliable alternative highway.
The traffic management challenges on these routes, as reviewed by SSP Traffic Rural Jammu GL Sharma in November and December 2024, further highlight the need for coordinated action. Congestion in Rajouri and Poonch, exacerbated by ongoing road-widening projects, demands proactive measures like deploying additional traffic personnel and conducting public awareness campaigns on road safety. The NC-led administration must integrate these efforts into a broader infrastructure strategy to ensure seamless connectivity.
A Legacy of Neglect, A Chance for Redemption
The NC’s dominance in Rajouri and Poonch comes at a critical juncture. The region’s strategic importance, bordering Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, necessitates robust infrastructure to support civilian and military mobility. Yet, the roads remain a metaphor for systemic neglect, where connectivity is a privilege, not a right. The NC’s historical advocacy for regional autonomy and development, as seen in its push for hydropower project repatriation and statehood restoration, must now translate into concrete action on the ground.
Omar Abdullah’s government, backed by Congress, cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of past administrations. The BJP’s tenure under Jugal Kishore Sharma, though not directly responsible for Rajouri-Poonch’s current parliamentary representation, left a legacy of stalled projects and unfulfilled promises. The NC-Congress alliance, with its near-total control of the region’s political machinery, has no excuse for inaction. The people of Rajouri and Poonch, particularly the Gujjar community, deserve roads that reflect their electoral mandate and strategic significance.
A Call to Action
The deplorable roads of Rajouri and Poonch are not just an infrastructure failure; they are a test of the NC-Congress alliance’s commitment to its voters. With NH-44’s recurring disruptions, the need for a reliable alternative is urgent. The NC must fast-track the Jammu-Poonch National Highway, upgrade the Mughal Road, and address traffic bottlenecks to ensure seamless connectivity. Beyond infrastructure, it must foster unity between Gujjars and Paharis, addressing reservation concerns transparently to prevent communal discord.
As I reached Srinagar, weary from the grueling journey, the Pir Panjal’s plight lingered in my mind. The NC-Congress alliance has a historic opportunity to rewrite the region’s narrative, turning broken roads into arteries of progress. The people of Rajouri and Poonch don’t need lofty promises—they need roads that lead to a better future. It’s time for the NC to deliver, proving that its mandate is more than electoral arithmetic but a pledge to uplift a region long left behind.
