Tariq khan cni
Qazigund, CNI NEWS: The Titanic Viewpoint, located near Lower Munda in Qazigund, around two kilometres from the historic Jawahar Tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, is fast losing its charm amid alleged official apathy and lack of maintenance.x

Once a popular stopping point for travellers entering the Kashmir Valley, the viewpoint offers scenic views of the valley, lush green mountains and surrounding landscapes. The place also has a cinematic connection, as the popular song “Aadmi Musafir Hai” from the 1977 Bollywood film Apnapan, sung by Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar, was filmed in the area around Titanic Point, with the sequence depicting a journey towards Srinagar.

According to the news agency— CNI NEWS, the opening of the 8.5-km Banihal-Qazigund Road Tunnel in 2021 has left the Titanic Viewpoint in a state of neglect, with locals alleging that little attention is being paid to the area. Since most of the traffic now uses the new tunnel, the flow of

vehicles through the historic Jawahar Tunnel has reduced. Fuel-laden tankers and trucks carrying gas cylinders and other hazardous materials use the Jawahar Tunnel. Some vehicles from nearby villages and towns also use the Jawahar Tunnel.The decline in traffic has also affected scores of shopkeepers and kiosk owners who had been earning their livelihood along the old highway route from Lower Munda to Banihal.

Mohammad Shafi, Trade President Qazigund, told KNO that the reduced traffic has badly affected businesses operating along the old route. “Earlier, thousands of travellers would stop here, and the shops and roadside businesses remained busy. After the opening of the new tunnel, the traffic has reduced drastically, affecting the livelihood of local traders. If the Jawahar Tunnel and surrounding areas are developed as tourist attractions, it can revive local businesses and create employment opportunities,” he said. CNI NEWS