Ropeways to connect villages in Jammu and Kashmir

At present, most of the hilly areas of the state are not connected through roads.
"We are committed to connecting all the villages and areas, but constructing roads to such areas is having its own pitfalls, environmentally. The roads construction involves cutting of trees, and some of the hilly areas are located in densely forested belts," Minister for Public Works Ghulam Mohammad Saroori said on Friday.

He said the ropeways would provide connectivity to the villagers of remote areas and also save forests. The government would be soon conducting surveys for this, Saroori said.
Meanwhile, the state government has expedited work on the Mughal road, that connects Kashmir Valley to border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region. The road would be fully commissioned by 2011, the minister said.

The work on the Mughal road was started in late 1970s, but has been hobbled by various factors, including objections by the defence ministry. It was again taken up in 2005 as the voices calling for an alternate highway to the Valley from Jammu's hilly areas gained momentum.