Srinagar, Mar 30 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday said that there is currently no proposal to construct a motorable road connecting Gurez to Sonamarg via Baraub, Mukim and Nishnai Nar, citing serious environmental concerns.
Replying to a starred question by MLA Nazir Ahmad Khan, the Public Works (R&B) Department, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), informed that the existing travel distance from Tilel (Talail) in Gurez to Sonamarg via Bandipora is approximately 250 kilometres.
The government said the proposed road alignment passes through dense forest areas of the Gurez Valley, known for its thick pine and coniferous cover along the southern slopes. It said that any such construction would raise significant concerns regarding large-scale tree felling and potential ecological imbalance.
“At present, there is no proposal for construction of the said road due to environmental implications,” the reply said.
The government further added that residents currently travel through the existing macadamised road from Gurez to Bandipora, and then onwards to Sonamarg (Kangan) via Ganderbal—(KNO)