When you live in Kashmir and you want to visit outside the valley, you have just three routes to choose for. These three routes are, 1. Aerial route, 2. Jammu- Srinagar national highway and 3. Mughal road. Let me define the Ist and last that is Aerial route and Mughal road, the former if we chat about is to be reserved from Srinagar international airport. However, when we come to book a ticket it proves to be so costly that a common man is not capable to get it effortlessly, as we experienced this winter when air charge touched INR 12000 from Srinagar to Chandigarh and vice versa. So, it’s pretty difficult for a common man to purchase a ticket of this rate for taking aerial route to visit outside or to comeback to valley. Till now we can say our administration is failed in this regard that they are not able to convince the flight owners to offer a candid rate. Now here we come to another alternative option called the Mughal road (Or historic Mughal road). Afore taking this as our voluntary route, it needs to be confirmed that is this winter season or summer. Because of the unceasing accumulation of snow on this route throughout winters makes it impossible for the movement of traffic for almost half of the year. So it’s pretty better to frisk this route at least during winters.
Then comes the most prominent and mostly used route by commuters “The Srinagar-Jammu national highway (NH44)” which runs via Ramban. This is a 300 Km stretch which unites the valley to other parts of the country. So it’s the only possible route to travel during the entire year. This route is not so much advanced still and in winters it becomes a death bowel for commuters travelling through. Looking back towards the erstwhile winter, the situation of the lane was such that it remained generally closed for the vehicular traffic. That was pretty known to us that before travelling on this road it’s obligatory to confirm the condition of the road. That was a well-known punishment which we are not able to get rid of from last 70 years.
Now additional punishment in the name of highway traffic ban has been thrown on us. No private vehicle will be allowed to ply on national highway (Baramulla-Udhampur) during Sunday and Wednesday. Only CRPF convoy will be permitted to ply on these two days and the rest of the private traffic has to remain ceased. Everybody is aware that this is the only possible route for we people to get our necessary materials and other things besides for travelling purpose. Aftermath the Pulwama attack, this decision was taken and we people are being made to suffer. This is a sought of punishment for we people. Due to this decision we people are suffering whether that is in terms of health, economy or emergency. This is effecting our economy badly because our business holders are not able to complete their orders, our essential supplies are getting halted. People make the government for their benefit, but I wonder that we are being made to suffer by the announcements like this. Who is blameable for this? During these two days only convoy is allowed to ply on this stretch, which is in contradiction to the freedom of movement. Many protests were held, numerous pleas have been filed in Jammu and Kashmir high court, but for how much time we are going to suffer. It’s merely a sought of punishment for a common man.

Writer is a research scholar of Botany at Jiwaji University Gwalior, a columnist and a social activist.
Can be reached at mirtawseef787@gmail.com